JENNINGS — Owners of loose livestock may soon have to pay more for the parish to house and feed their impounded animals.

The Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury will consider adopting a new ordinance at its 5 p.m. meeting Wednesday, July 23. It would increase the fees for impounding large animals to help the parish recoup the cost to house, feed and care for them, said Renee Hicks, Police Jury assistant secretary-treasurer.

Under the measure, a person would pay $50 per head, per day for any animal housed by the parish. Additional charges could be imposed for veterinary care. A $200 transportation fee would be assessed for cost of picking up the animals.

Under a current agreement with the Police Jury, sheriff’s deputies or other designees pick up loose livestock. The animals are held at the parish’s fairgrounds arena or other designated location until the owners can be found.

If the owner is not immediately located, the parish must post notices near the location where the animal was found, said Curt Guillory, head of Police Jury Ordinance Committee.

At least one notification must be published in the parish’s official journal providing a description of the animal, including any brand or marks, he said. If no owner is found, the livestock is sold.

The parish now charges $1 per head, per day for large animals and 50 cents for smaller animals.

If approved, the ordinance would take effect in August. The current ordinance has been in place since 1923.(MGNonline)