Caddo Parish: Commission Passes Mandatory Parishwide Spay/neuter Ordinance

Shreveport LA

10 December, 2021

11:29 AM

Description

Press release from the Caddo Parish: December 9, 2021 CADDO COMMISSION PASSES PARISHWIDE SPAY/NEUTER ORDINANCE CADDO COMMISSION PASSES PARISHWIDE SPAY/NEUTER ORDINANCE   Caddo Parish, LA – The Caddo Parish Commission has voted to enact a parish wide ordinance aimed at reducing the number of intakes and euthanizations of animals in Caddo Parish. The ordinance, adopted at the Commission's regular session meeting on Thursday, requires most dogs and cats within Caddo Parish to be spayed or neutered.   "Caddo Parish Animal Services currently takes in between 4,000-5,000 animals each year," said Caddo Parish Animal Services Director Travis Clark. "With the passage of this ordinance, the goal is to humanely reduce the number of dogs and cats taken in by Animal Services, and to reduce any subsequent euthanasia as we address population control," said Clark.   The new ordinance applies to dogs that are at least 1 year old (52 weeks or older) and cats that are at least 6 months old (26 weeks or older).  The ordinance does provide exclusions under the following conditions:   Any dog or cat that is registered with the officially recognized pedigree/kennel club associations (American Kennel Club, American Dog Breeding Association, etc.), providing that the owner can provide annual proof of membership and participation in show at least once a year in events sponsored by the organization.    Animals with a chronic health condition or disease whose health will be seriously or permanently affected by a spay/neuter procedure, providing that the owner provides official documentation by a licensed veterinarian.    Animal establishment owners as well as those who have breeding permits, providing that these animals are microchipped and that the permit is obtained annually.   The Parish will monitor the effects of this ordinance on the animal population.  The ordinance takes effect on July 1, 2022 and will sunset June 30, 2024 unless reenacted as a permanent ordinance. This press release was produced by the Caddo Parish. The views expressed here are the author's own.