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Suggested Pet Licensing & Kennel Licensing Laws 
for Bogalusa, Washington Parish, Louisiana

“Pat”, Patricia D. McClendon
2825 Tyson Place
Louisville, KY 40218-1621

June 2, 2000

The Daily News
P. O. Box 820 (525 Avenue V)
Bogalusa, LA 70427

Dear Editor:

and

City of Bogalusa
202 Arkansas Avenue
Mayor Mack McGehee
P.O. Drawer 1179
Bogalusa, LA, 70429-1179

Dear Mayor Mack McGehee:

I am writing in support of my Aunt Jan Applewhite, "Kitty City", and friends of animals. I am a former resident of Bogalusa.

The citizens of Bogalusa need to decide for themselves which laws and regulations they want in regards to pet ownership. This letter is meant to generate community input, not to dictate what Bogalusa should do, but it does contain some suggestions and examples for consideration. The current piecemeal approach to the pet over-population problem is like bailing water from a sinking boat. A well thought out approach to responsible pet ownership is in Bogalusa’s and the animals’ best interest.

In my opinion, Bogalusa needs to have pet licensing laws (License/Litter/Leash Laws). Having these laws and enforcing them would do several things:

1.        They would safeguard the public health and safety. (There would be fewer reported dog bites, fewer wrecks due to avoiding animals on the road, etc.)

2.        They would ensure humane care for animals by providing shelter, food and medical care for unwanted, abused and neglected animals.

3.        They would provide a source of revenue for enforcement, for care and protection of animals, and for public education including the need to spay/neuter animals to eliminate pet overpopulation.

Suggested Licensing fees:

·         Altered (spayed/neutered)   $5.00

·         Unaltered                             $30.00

·         Senior Citizen                        $3.00

·         Service animals                  No fee 

This is an example of a possible informational flyer with possible laws/regulations:

·         All dogs and cats over 4 months of age are required by law to have a current Bogalusa Animal Control and Protection License and yearly rabies vaccination.

·         All dogs and cats are to be kept on the property of the owner. When not on the owner’s property, the animal must be on a lead or leash and under control of a responsible person.

·         Owners must up pick up droppings left behind by their pets. Cleaning up after your pet is just plain good manners.

·         A dog or puppy must not be exclusively chained as a means of restraint. Keeping the pet inside the home is best.

·         The owner must provide food, water, proper shelter, and veterinary care for their pet(s).

·         Proper shelter is a living area constructed to protect the animal, from precipitation and provide insulation from weather extremes. A shaded area must also be accessible to the animal.

·         Under Bogalusa Law, cruelty is defined as failing to provide adequate food and water; failing to detect the need or withholding veterinary care; creating or allowing unhealthful living conditions; infliction of pain; and failure to provide health related grooming.

·         If you have questions concerning laws or requirements pertaining to your pet please call Jimmy Efferson, Bogalusa Animal Control Officer at 732-3611 or visit the Police Station, 202 Arkansas Avenue.

 Definition: A dog license consists of a metal tag and a receipt showing the appropriate license fee has been paid. The receipt must be kept by the owner and presented to an animal control officer upon request. The metal tag must be securely fastened to a substantial collar by the owner and worn by the dog at all times unless the dog is engaged in lawful hunting; the dog is competing in a dog show; the dog has a skin condition which would be exacerbated by the wearing of a collar; the dog is confined; or the dog is under the immediate control of its owner. It is unlawful for any person, except the owner, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog. Note: A rabies tag should also be required on the pet’s collar.

Special licenses for kennels (4 or more dogs or six or more cats above the age of 6 months) should be required. This is also a zoning issue because kennels can be disruptive to neighbors, so no kennel license for more than four dogs will be allowed in a residential zone. The kennel facility should meet health standards but especially have cement floors. Any person without a kennel license who establishes or keeps a kennel shall be fined not exceeding five dollars ($5.00) for each day the kennel is kept. All kennel facilities will be inspected by the Bogalusa Animal Control department for compliance with city codes and regulations prior to issuing the kennel license.

Definition: A kennel is a place where four or more adult dogs or six or more adult cats are kept, whether by the owners of the dogs or by persons providing facilities and care, whether or not for compensation, but not including a small animal hospital or clinic or pet shop. An adult dog is one of either sex, altered or unaltered, that has reached the age of six months or older.

Some Suggested Minimum Standards for Kennels

·         All Kennels and Boarding Facilities shall comply with the following minimum standards:

·         Every Kennel or Boarding Facility shall be of sufficient space to allow the dogs or domestic animals kept therein to stand erect and be comfortable, and shall have no less than 2.3 square meters (25 sq. ft.) of floor area per dog or domestic animal which may be increased in accordance with the size of the dog or decreased in accordance with the size of any other domestic animal using reasonable judgment and approved by the Humane Society or Veterinarian.

·         Each dog run shall have a minimum floor area of 3.0. square meters (32 sq. ft.). In the case of runs for domestic animals, the minimum floor area may be decreased in accordance with the size of the intended domestic animal using reasonable judgment and approved by the Humane Society or Veterinarian.

·         Every Kennel or Boarding Facility shall provide an adequate constant supply of potable water for each animal’s consumption.

·         Every Kennel or Boarding Facility shall be kept in a sanitary, well-ventilated condition and free from offensive odors, disease and vermin. Animal feces shall be removed daily.

·         Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) at URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ for the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) literature, URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/publications.html. APHIS is part of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Suggested License/Inspection Fees:

·         Facility license $100 with Biennial renewal $100

Or suggested License/Inspection Fees per dog basis:

·         Female dog                             $10.00

·         Male dog                                     7.50

·         Spayed or neutered dog           5.00

·         Guide or hearing dog              No fee

·         Kennel for 20 dogs or less      20.00

·         Kennel for 30 dogs or less      25.00

·         Kennel for 40 dogs or less      30.00

·         Kennel for 50 dogs or less      35.00

·         Kennels with over 50 dogs are prohibited within the city.

 Or suggested License/Inspection Fees depending on the type of kennel:

Boarding Kennel License:

·         $  65 - 3-11 animals.

·         $100 - 12 or more animals.

Breeding Kennel License:

·         $  65 – 2-5 animals.

·         $100 – 6-11 animals.

·         $200 – 12 or more animals.

Rescue Organizations – no fee

Veterinary Hospital – $65

Additionally, all pets adopted from the Bogalusa Animal Shelter should have their current shots and be spayed or neutered (or if they are too young, a voucher issued for spraying or neutering). Adoption fees would have to increase from the current $10 for dogs to about $65 - $90 to account for shots and the spraying or neutering. Adopting an animal from the Bogalusa Animal Shelter entails certain responsibilities, including but not limited to, mandatory spaying or neutering, proper vet care and proper housing and feeding.

The Bogalusa Animal Shelter should service both dogs and cats (or if not cats, then provide funding for “Kitty City”). To avoid more stray animals, the animal shelter should guaranteed adopters that they can return the animal to the shelter at no fee if the adoption does not work out. My hope is that Bogalusa can find a way to have a “no-kill” policy for its animal shelter perhaps through temporary foster homes if the shelter exceeds its capacity. (If a volunteer agrees to foster an animal, then the Bogalusa Animal Shelter will provide for the animal’s basic medical needs. In most cases, the cost of doing this is recouped when permanent adoption takes place or through fund-raising events by volunteers.)

Suggested Adoption Fees

The adoption fee for cats and dogs should include a complimentary examination by one of Bogalusa area veterinarians, vaccination and dewormer, spaying or neutering by participating area vets, identification microchip or tattooing, dog or cat ID tag.

Dogs

·         Female              $90.00

·         Male                  $85.00

·         Spayed female $60.00

·         Neutered male $60.00

·         Female              $75.00

·         Male                  $60.00

·         Spayed female $40.00

·         Neutered male $40.00

No law or regulation can be effective without strict enforcement. Once the message gets out that the laws and regulations will be enforced, there will be compliance. Unlicensed pets are subject to seizure and fines. Fees and penalties can come to as much as $100.Fines should be progressive: $30 for first offense (of non-licensure), $40 the following month if not in compliance, etc. Fees that are past due should still be collected even if the owner no longer owns the pet(s) as this will discourage getting rid of pet(s) to avoid past due fines. This should also encourage having pets spayed or neutered to reduce the yearly fee to only $5.00. Fees for other infractions would need to be set. Fines are necessary to assure compliance.

Citizens should have zero tolerance for cruelty towards animals, especially the infliction of pain and/or killing of animals. Like fire setting, anyone who enjoys hurting animals is in serious need of mental health services. Please report anyone hurting animals to the Bogalusa Animal Shelter and the Bogalusa Police.

Having daily tours of the animal shelter at a set time would be an excellent way for the public to be educated about the responsible of pet ownership. Tours would make the public aware of the funding needs of the animal shelter, as well as the need for volunteers at the animal shelter. Volunteers could help raise funds for improving on the existing animal shelter. Bogalusa can control its animal population with community leadership and volunteerism.

Providing educational programs through the public schools, as well as clubs and organizations, would be a great way to ensure that Bogalusa will be free of the current pet over-population problem in the coming generations. Free obedience training classes would promote responsible pet ownership and well-mannered pets.

I invite you to visit Jan Applewhite’s Kitty City web site for more information, see URL: http://www.geocities.com/JanApplewhite/.

Sincerely,

“Pat”, Patricia D. McClendon, MSSW, CSW

Social Worker

Source: Many Web sites on the Internet.

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Copyright © 2000 by Jan Applewhite, All rights reserved.
This Web site was last updated on 12/31/2000.

URL: http://www.geocities.com/JanApplewhite/suggested.html

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