Shelters must stay open for animal redemption and adoption during posted or normal business hours, display hours and an emergency phone number, follow sanitation codes for waste disposal, undergo parish inspections, register fees, and make staff and inspector training requirements available and approved as stated.
§2463. General shelter standards A. Shelters shall be open for redemption and adoption of animals during posted or normal business hours. Hours of operation and emergency telephone number shall be prominently displayed. B. Sewage disposal of waste matter shall comply with existing parish and state codes for sanitation. C.(1) Shelters shall be inspected at least once every six months by an authorized representative of the parish to determine compliance with the requirements of this Part. Additional inspections shall be made promptly upon receipt of a bonafide complaint. (2) The parish shall notify the director of the animal control agency or shelter of the inspector's name in writing. Each individual authorized to conduct shelter inspections for the parish shall annually attend training offered by an organization that provides accredited continuing education courses regarding shelter safety, animal welfare, and state compliance procedures, such as the Louisiana Animal Control Association. The training requirement shall apply only if an online training option is available. All training required by this Paragraph shall be approved by the state veterinarian. D. Fees must be visibly posted and registered with the parish governing authority. E. Shelter personnel shall annually attend training offered by an organization that provides accredited continuing education courses regarding shelter safety, animal welfare, and state compliance procedures, such as the Louisiana Animal Control Association and should be trained as to animal health, disease control, humane care and treatment, animal control and transportation of animals. Shelter workers shall be fundamentally humane, shall be able to identify and understand the principal animal diseases and injuries, and should have good judgment and even temperament. The training requirement shall apply only if an online training option is available. All training required by this Subsection shall be approved by the state veterinarian. Acts 1985, No. 806, §1, eff. July 22, 1985; Acts 2017, No. 184, §1.