I live in the unincorporated area of the parish. I was recently told by an Animal Services officer that the Police Jury had adopted the same “dogs at large prohibited” ordinance as the city of Lake Charles.
He said he could write me a ticket because I was standing in my yard with my lab and she was not on a leash.
He also said that all dogs had to be confined on private property by fence, kennel, etc., and be accompanied on a leash at all times when not confined and are not allowed to roam at all on my property.
Is this true?
Yes.
As The Informer has pointed out before, both the city and the parish codes feature the same at-large dog ordinance.
“Any citizen may, or law enforcement
officer shall, seize any dog found unaccompanied by its owner or keeper
and running at-large
on any road, street, or other public place or trespassing on any
premises other than the owners’,” read the ordinances.
“Citizen must contact animal services and adoption center to provide details regarding the animal.”
The parish code includes the following penalty provision:
In addition to the charges and civil
penalties specified herein, the owner, harborer or possessor of a dog
who is found at-large
must have the dog microchipped ... . If the dog has not already
been rendered sterile, the owner shall be encouraged to have
the animal spayed or neutered within seven (7) days of redemption
or return. If the impoundment for said animal is a second
offense occurring within one (1) calendar year, the sterilization
of the animal will be mandatory.
The ordinance says owners, and the dogs themselves, can avoid sterilization — “keep the animal intact,” it reads — if they
pay $300. The fee will be assessed “each time the animal is found at large for the life of the animal.”
For more information, call Calcasieu Parish Animal Services at 721-3730.
What is the law regarding parking on the neutral ground in front of your home?
It’s Section 20-100 of Lake Charles’ code of ordinances: “No vehicle shall be parked on any neutral ground within the city.”
The provision contains an exception for certain paved roadside spots.
“If a vehicle is found in violation, the complainant should notify the Police Department, who will in turn dispatch an officer
to assess the circumstances,” Lt. Ted Trunick wrote in an email.
“The officer should then place a parking citation on the windshield of the vehicle. The citation is to be paid to City Hall
at the Water Department within the next 48 hours.”
He said abandoned vehicles parked on neutral ground or public property can be reported to police, who will place a citation
and a violation notice on them. Owners have 10 days to move their vehicles, Trunick said.
Online: www.municode.com.
The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com