§ 7-130. Penalties.

(a)

If prosecuted before the bureau of administrative adjudication, any person found to have violated the provisions in division 6 shall be punished as provided in Chapter 2.5 of the Code of Ordinances in addition to the hearing officer having the authority to limit the amount of animals the guilty person may own, keep or harbor, may order that the animal that is the subject of the adjudication is prohibited from returning to the person found to be guilty under this division. The hearing officer may also assess against the defendant the housing costs and medical expenses the animal shelter incurred as a result of impoundment of the animal. Finally, the hearing officer may order for the animal to be spayed or neutered, micro-chipped and have updated vaccinations at the cost to the defendant and any other reasonable provision(s) that the hearing officer deems warranted in his discretion.

(b)

If prosecuted through the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office and the defendant(s) is found to have committed the crime of simple and/or aggravated cruelty to animals then said defendant(s) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(1)

The custodian shall retain custody of the animal for the purpose of evidence upon the trial, subject to the order of the court. All costs incurred in the housing of any seized animal pending disposition of any animal cruelty charge, upon conviction of the accused, shall be borne by the person so convicted. If a seized animal is unable to humanely survive the final disposition of the animal cruelty charge, the animal be humanely put to death, but only upon the certification of a licensed veterinarian either that the animal is not likely to survive or that in his professional judgment, by reason of the physical condition of the animal, it should be humanely euthanized.

(c)

For purposes of this section, if more than one (1) animal is subject to an act of cruel treatment, each act shall constitute a separate offense.

(d)

The director of the animal shelter or designee may enforce any provisions of this article by instituting a suit for injunctive relief and use summary process, including all temporary restraining orders permitted by law.

(Code 1961, § 4-16(e); Ord. No. 24925 , § 1, 3-25-15)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 24925 , § 1, adopted March 25, 2015, amended § 7-130, and in so doing changed the title of said section from "Artificial coloring of animals" to "Penalties," as set out herein.