When examining the worst pieces of legislation, the Sportsmen’s Alliance routinely asks: ‘Do they not know what they’re doing? Or, do they just not care?’ That’s no longer a question that revolves around a proposed local animal ordinance in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Beginning Nov. 4, the Sportsmen’s Alliance published nine alerts about the “Animal Control Ordinance” or ACO. Seven of these alerts identified the worst problems with the ACO that would make it the most extreme animal cruelty law in the United States.
But that hasn’t stopped the St. Landry Parish Council from planning to give residents an early Christmas present next week by approving this updated, and yet still poorly drafted proposal, jam-packed with government overreach. Here is the rundown on how the Parish addressed the Seven Stupid Ideas contained in the ACO: (Spoiler: They didn’t change any of them)
- The ACO makes it against the law to control vermin such as rats.
- Riding in cars with dogs remains a crime under the ACO. Whether inside a vehicle, in the bed of a vehicle, or even in a dog box, these all constitute an offense under the ACO.
- Anyone who raises any dogs is still considered a “breeder,” required to purchase two different permits from the Parish each year. They must also provide state and federal permits, or prove they don’t need them. Anyone who sells even a single dog is considered a “commercial kennel” under the ACO.
- The ACO’s ridiculous tethering provision remains, forcing the spay and neutering of dogs unless they are tethered in a fenced enclosure.
- Landry Parish remains committed to banning hunting with dogs through the enforcement of its “dogs running at large prohibition” requiring all dogs to be on a leash.
- The ACO’s ambitious plan to stop dogs from barking by criminalizing it remains intact in the redrafted proposal.
- And lastly, the ACO’s draconian criminal penalties remain in the proposal. These penalties allow the parish to give your dog away while it is impounded, or even kill it, before a violation of the ACO is even adjudicated. The ACO still forces those charged to pay for the cost of this abuse or automatically forfeit their dog. And penalties still remain up to $500 or even six months of jail time.
The St. Landry Parish Council is well aware of the enormous flaws in the ACO; they just don’t care. During the hearing on the ordinance on Dec. 7, Parish Council Members spoke about the many misconceptions about the ACO. In their view, the ACO is fine and people concerned about the proposal “just don’t get it.”
The one thing the latest draft of the ACO does clarify is that they intend to beef up enforcement of the new law. Throughout the ordinance, the council added provisions clarifying that it will be enforced by both the police and any other person with POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) certification. This means any type of law enforcement officer that is able to carry a gun is authorized to enforce the ACO.
St Landry Parish Council intends to vote on the ACO on December 21. It is imperative that residents use the TAKE ACTION button below make their voices known to put this monstrosity where it belongs: in the trash can.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.