§ 4-105. Humane care by commercial establishments required.

Every person within the parish who owns any animal or who owns, conducts, manages or operates any animal establishment for which a license is required by this article, shall comply with each of the following conditions:

(1)

No dog or cat under the age of eight weeks shall be brought or shipped into the parish for purpose of resale and no such dog or cat shall be offered for sale. Each and every animal sold or offered for sale to the public at retail by any establishment required to have a license under this article must be examined and issued a written certificate of health by a state-licensed veterinarian. This certificate shall state that the animal has been found to be free of contagious, noncontagious, hereditary and congenital diseases or conditions as far as can be determined considering the animal's age. Each dog sold or offered for sale by an establishment required to have a license under this article shall be vaccinated by a state-licensed veterinarian against distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis, and each cat sold or offered for sale by any establishment required to have a license under this article, shall be vaccinated against distemper, rhinotracheitis, calici, and pneumonitis.

(2)

No dog or cat which is four months or older may be sold unless it has been vaccinated for rabies within the last 12 months preceding sale. Rabies tags and licenses shall accompany the dog or cat upon sale. A certificate of health and immunization shall be provided to the buyer or seller for each individual animal at the time of delivery of the animal. The certificate shall be issued and signed by a state-licensed and practicing veterinarian. The certificate shall provide the date of the health examination, the results of the health examination, dates of vaccinations, or treatments given the animal. Health certification must have been performed within 30 days prior to sale of the animal, and seller must certify in writing to buyer that the state of health has not changed between the date of health certification and the date of delivery of the animal from seller to buyer. Certification of health and immunization, issued within 30 days of resale, must be provided to any other purchaser occasioned by the subsequent resale of the animal.

(3)

Animals owned or kept by any person or business who owns, conducts, manages or operates any animal establishment for which a license is required shall also comply with the provisions of section 4-21.

(4)

No animals bearing evidence of malnutrition, ill health, unhealed injury or having been kept in an unsanitary condition shall be displayed for the amusement of the public.

(5)

The animal control officer or deputy animal control officer or other duly designated representatives of the parish may enter any commercial premises where animals are maintained, for investigation or inspection as to whether or not any portion of such premises, buildings, structures, enclosures, pens, or cages are being used, kept or maintained in violation of this or any other pertinent state law. This section does not permit any person to enter a private kennel, or cattery, except where necessary to rescue an animal in distress or with a search warrant.

(6)

No small animal shall be transported by a commercial kennel, guard dog service, pet shop or dealer, whether by private or public means, unless individually housed in a container designed for that purpose, including provisions for adequate ventilation and food and water. The container must open at one end, have a solid top and bottom and a minimum of 15 percent of the total accumulated side and end area shall incorporate an open grill for air circulation. Open space shall be maintained around the outside of each animal's container to insure adequate ventilation.

(Ord. No. 1001, § 3.810, 11-17-86)