Unfortunately, there are no coop laws on chickens or other fowl. Animal Services can only enforce ordinances that are passed by the Police Jury. Several ordinances were proposed by Animal Services in 1997. The matter was deferred to the Advisory Committee, and a public meeting was held in January 1998. Five speakers showed up to speak, and all were opposed to having to keep their chickens cooped. The committee recognized there was no intention by Animal Services to require putting all chickens in coops. However, since there is no specific law on chickens in the Parish like in the municipalities, nothing can be done to assist citizens experiencing these types of problems. It basically becomes a civil matter.

There are no leash laws on cats. The first thing we advise complainants to do is to speak to the owner of the cat. Usually the cat owner is unaware their pet is even causing a problem. If that doesn't work you can purchase a humane box trap to trap the nuisance animals. Once an animal is trapped, you must call the shelter immediately to have the animal removed. You can also bring the animal in the trap to the shelter and we can remove it for you. Trapping cats is not a guaranteed solution to the neighbor's cat - the owners can come and redeem their cat at the shelter.

Losing a pet can be very stressful on a family. If you have lost a beloved pet, please follow these important steps:

1. Post alerts/flyers in neighborhoods, vet clinics and on social media: 

• Describe the pet: BE SPECIFIC - If it has a spot on its right front paw, MENTION IT
• List the pet's name: Does your pet answer to his/her name? Does he/she answer to a certain call?
• Cover the "3 W's:" Give the What, Where and When you think the pet went missing.
• Include a photo, if possible.

 2. Email: Email Calcasieu Parish Animal Services Department here to notify the staff that your pet is missing. List all of the information that is on your flyer, or simply attach your flyer to the email.

3. View lost pets here to see if Calcasieu Animal Services has already located your pet. You can also report your animal missing on this webpage!

4. Follow up with Animal Services to do a walk through (PLEASE make an appointment).

5. If your pet is microchipped, call the microchip company to report them as lost. Verify with them that all of your contact information is current and add an alternate contact if available.

Finding a missing pet requires plenty of time and energy. But don't give up; you would be surprised how many pets are reunited with their owners!

 

Parish and City Ordinances have laws to protect you and your property. If you know who owns the cat, you can fill out a witness statement with the exact date you saw the animal damage your property. We must have a statement from you and one other neighbor that have seen the animal damage property. Once those are received, an officer can issue citations. Please understand this is not going to be an overnight solution, and if the owner of the animal decides to contest the citation, you and the second witness will be required to go to court to testify.

If there is no known owner of the cat, you can purchase a have Humane Box Trap and trap it. Each time a cat is caught in the trap, call us and we will remove it or you can bring the trapped cat into our facility. 

These same steps can be taken for:

Neighbors letting dogs run loose, digging or destroying property
Barking dogs

By keeping dogs on a leash and staying on designated trails, contact with coyotes can generally be avoided. You should always supervise your dog closely in areas where coyotes are present, even your backyard. Coyotes are not afraid of your dog, but they are afraid of you. If a coyote approaches your dog, scare it away by flaring your arms, yelling or throwing something at it. 

If you may have coyotes on your property or in your neighborhood, follow these tips:

• Do not feed coyotes. Problems occur when people begin feeding coyotes, either deliberately or inadvertently.
• Garbage must be stored in secure containers. Do not put meat scraps in compost heaps. Also do not put the trash out at NIGHT, especially in the spring. Adults will be more territorial since they have their young.
• Remove outside pet food containers. Coyotes will prey upon small mammals attracted to pet food.
• If you have fruit trees, pick up the fallen fruit as they eat this too.
• If you have bird feeders, place them up high as they have seeds which attracts coyotes and rodents. As mentioned before coyotes are very fond of small mammals and will be attracted by them as well.
• Keep pets indoors or keep a watchful eye on them. Walk dogs on a leash, especially at night.
• Do not leave small children outside unattended.
• Encourage your neighbors to follow the same advice.

To learn more, click here.

Calcasieu Parish Animal Services and Adoption Center has a low cost voucher program to assist in having your pet spayed or neutered. If you are a resident of Calcasieu Parish, and receive any type of public assistance, are a college student, or meet other low income requirements , you may qualify for a voucher. Simply bring proof of assistance and your government-issued photo ID to the shelter during regular business hours and fill out a brief application. Upon approval, the staff will then issue a voucher and schedule an appointment with a participating clinic of your choice. The price will vary depending on which clinic you choose. 

At a minimum, all pets must be current on their rabies vaccination and Calcasieu Parish license. Some participating clinics may require additional vaccinations. If your pet is not current, you will be required to get your pet up-to-date. Most veterinarians will allow residents to pay for and get their petz updated while they're at the clinic for surgery. If your pet is already current, please bring that information with you when you fill out the application so the staff can include it on the voucher.

VOUCHERS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE PER HOUSEHOLD IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD. 

People needing assistance outside of Calcasieu can call SPAY USA at1-800-248-SPAY (1-800-248-7729).

A tether is a cord that anchors something movable to a stationary point. There are a number of applications for tethers, but the primary use is limiting the movement of animals.

Click HERE to see a diagram of how to appropriately tether your pet.

We have done our research and found some useful information to answer our community's questions regarding what are poisonous snakes, what to do if bitten, where to go for the closest treatment, etc.  Click here to find out more.