While we are compiling the laws of Louisiana, please see the following selected Animal Laws from the Louisiana Revised Statutes. In addition, to find animal laws in your municipality, please visit Municode (you will be leaving this website and there are no assurances that the laws on Municode are updated and/or accurate).

Selected Louisiana Revised Statutes:

§102.1. Cruelty to animals; simple and aggravated

A.(1) Any person who intentionally or with criminal negligence commits any of the following shall be guilty of simple cruelty to animals:

(a) Overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, or overworks a living animal.

(b) Torments, cruelly beats, or unjustifiably injures any living animal, whether belonging to himself or another.

(c) Having charge, custody, or possession of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, unjustifiably fails to provide it with proper food, proper drink, proper shelter, or proper veterinary care.

(d) Abandons any animal. A person shall not be considered to have abandoned an animal if he delivers to an animal control center an animal which he found running at large.

(e) Impounds or confines or causes to be impounded or confined in a pound or other place, a living animal and fails to supply it during such confinement with proper food, proper drink, and proper shelter.

(f) Carries, or causes to be carried, a living animal in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane manner.

(g) Unjustifiably administers any poisonous or noxious drug or substance to any domestic animal or unjustifiably exposes any such drug or substance, with intent that the same shall be taken or swallowed by any domestic animal.

(h) Injures any animal belonging to another person without legal privilege or consent of the owner.

(i) Mistreats any living animal by any act or omission whereby unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain, suffering, or death is caused to or permitted upon the animal.

(j) Causes or procures to be done by any person any act enumerated in this Subsection.

(2)(a) Whoever commits the crime of simple cruelty to animals shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

(b) In addition to any other penalty imposed, a person who commits the crime of cruelty to animals shall be ordered to perform five eight-hour days of court-approved community service. The community service requirement shall not be suspended.

B.(1) Any person who intentionally or with criminal negligence tortures, maims, or mutilates any living animal, whether belonging to himself or another, shall be guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals.

(2) Any person who tampers with livestock at a public livestock exhibition or at a private sale shall also be guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals.

(3) Any person who causes or procures to be done by any person any act designated in this Subsection shall also be guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals.

(4) Whoever commits the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals shall be fined not less than five thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than ten years, or both.

(5) For purposes of this Subsection, where more than one animal is tortured, maimed, mutilated, or maliciously killed1 or where more than one head of livestock is tampered with, each act comprises a separate offense.

NOTE: Subsection C eff. until August 15, 2008. See Acts 2007, No. 425, §1.

C. This Section shall not apply to the lawful hunting or trapping of wildlife as provided by law, herding of domestic animals, accepted veterinary practices, and activities carried on for scientific or medical research governed by accepted standards.

NOTE: Subsection C as amended by Acts 2007, No. 425, §1, eff. August 15, 2008.

C. This Section shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) The lawful hunting or trapping of wildlife as provided by law.

(2) Herding of domestic animals.

(3) Accepted veterinary practices.

(4) Activities carried on for scientific or medical research governed by accepted standards.

(5) Traditional rural Mardi Gras parades, processions, or runs involving chickens.

(6) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the standard transportation and agricultural processing of agriculture products as defined in R.S. 3:3602(5) and (6).

NOTE: Subsection D repealed by Acts 2007, No. 425, §2, eff. August 15, 2008.

D. For purposes of this Section, fowl shall not be defined as animals. Only the following birds shall be identified as animals for purposes of this Section:

(1) Order Psittaciformes-parrots, parakeets, lovebirds, macaws, cockatiels or cockatoos.

(2) Order Passeriformes-canaries, starlings, sparrows, flycatches, mynah or myna.

(3) Order Anseriformes-Anatidae--swans, geese, and all forms of ducks.

(4) Order Struthioniformes--ratites-ostriches, emus, rheas, cassowaries, and kiwis.

(5) Genus-Pavo--peacocks and peahens.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 431, §1. Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 6, §1; Acts 1987, No. 336, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1165, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1246, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 461, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1212, §1; Acts 2006, No. 228, §1; Acts 2007, No. 425, §§1 and 2, eff. Aug. 15, 2008.

1As appears in enrolled bill.

§102.2. Seizure and disposition of animals cruelly treated

A. When a person is charged with cruelty to animals, said person's animal may be seized by the arresting officer and held pursuant to this Section.

B.(1) The seizing officer shall notify the owner of the seized animal of the provisions of this Section by posting written notice at the location where the animal was seized or by leaving it with a person of suitable age and discretion residing at that location within twenty-four hours of the seizure.

(2) The seizing officer shall photograph the animal within fifteen days after posting of the notice of seizure and shall cause an affidavit to be prepared in order to document its condition in accordance with R.S. 15:436.2.

(3) The seizing officer shall appoint a licensed veterinarian or other suitable custodian to care for any such animal. The custodian shall retain custody of the animal in accordance with this Section.

(4) The seized animal shall be held by the custodian provided for in Paragraph (3) for a period of fifteen consecutive days, including weekends and holidays, after such notice of seizure is given. Thereafter, if a person who claims an interest in such animal has not posted bond in accordance with Subsection C, the animal may be humanely disposed of by sale, adoption, or euthanasia.

C. A person claiming an interest in any animal seized pursuant to this Section may prevent the disposition of the animal as provided for in Subsection B by posting a bond with the court within fifteen days after receiving notice of such seizure in an amount sufficient to secure payment for all reasonable costs incurred in the boarding and treatment for any seized animal for a thirty-day period commencing on the date of initial seizure. Such bond shall not prevent the department, agency, humane society, or other custodian of the animal from disposing of the animal in accordance with Subsection B at the end of the thirty-day period covered by the bond, unless the person claiming an interest posts an additional bond for such reasonable expenses for an additional thirty-day period. In addition, such bond shall not prevent disposition of the animal for humane purposes at any time, in accordance with Subsection E of this Section. The amount of the bond shall be determined by the department, agency, humane society or other custodian of the animal as authorized by the court in accordance with the current rate for board and on the condition of the animal after examination by a licensed veterinarian.

D. Upon a person's conviction of cruelty to animals, it shall be proper for the court, in its discretion, to order the forfeiture and final determination of the custody of any animal found to be cruelly treated in accordance with this Section and the forfeiture of the bond posted pursuant to Subsection C as part of the sentence. The court may, in its discretion, order the payment of any reasonable or additional costs incurred in the boarding or veterinary treatment of any seized animal prior to its disposition, whether or not a bond was posted by the defendant. In the event of the acquittal or final discharge without conviction of the accused, the court shall, on demand, direct the delivery of any animal held in custody to the owner thereof and order the return of any bond posted pursuant to Subsection C, less reasonable administrative costs.

E. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the euthanasia of any seized animal, at any time, whether or not any bond was posted, if a licensed veterinarian determines that the animal is not likely to survive and is suffering, as a result of any physical condition. In such instances, the court, in its discretion, may order the return of any bond posted, less reasonable costs, at the time of trial.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 431, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1212, §1.

§102.3. Search warrant; animal cruelty offenses

If the complaint is made, by affidavit, to any magistrate authorized to issue search warrants in criminal cases, that the complainant has reason to believe that an animal has been or is being cruelly treated in violation of R.S. 14:102.1, in any building or place, such magistrate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a search warrant to any law enforcement officer authorized by law to make arrests for such offenses, authorizing any such officer to make a search of said building or place, and to arrest any person found violating R.S. 14:102.1. Said warrant may also authorize said officer to seize any animal believed to be cruelly treated and to take custody thereof. This section shall not be construed as a limitation on the power of law enforcement officers to seize animals as evidence at the time of the arrest.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 431, §1.

§102.4. Confined animals; necessary food and water

When a living animal is impounded or confined, and continues without necessary food and water for more than twenty-four consecutive hours, any law enforcement officer may, as often as is necessary, enter any place in which the animal is impounded or confined and supply it with necessary food and water so long as it shall remain impounded or confined.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 431, §1.

§102.5. Dogfighting; training and possession of dogs for fighting

A. No person shall intentionally do any of the following:

(1) For amusement or gain, cause any dog to fight with another dog, or cause any dogs to injure each other.

(2) Permit any act in violation of Paragraph (1) to be done on any premises under his charge or control, or aid or abet any such act.

(3) Promote, stage, advertise, or be employed at a dogfighting exhibition.

(4) Sell a ticket of admission or receive money for the admission of any person to any place used, or about to be used, for any activity described in Paragraph (2).

(5) Own, manage, or operate any facility kept or used for the purpose of dogfighting.

(6) Knowingly attend as a spectator at any organized dogfighting event.

(7)(a) Own, possess, keep, or train a dog for purpose of dogfighting.

(b) The following activities shall be admissible as evidence of a violation of this Paragraph:

(i) Possession of any treadmill wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker, jenni, or other paraphernalia, together with evidence that the paraphernalia is being used or intended for use in the unlawful training of a dog to fight with another dog, along with the possession of any such dog.

(ii) Tying, attaching, or fastening any live animal to a machine or power propelled device, for the purpose of causing the animal to be pursued by a dog, together with the possession of a dog.

(iii) Possession or ownership of a dog exhibiting injuries or alterations consistent with dogfighting, including but not limited to torn or missing ears, scars, lacerations, bite wounds, puncture wounds, bruising or other injuries, together with evidence that the dog has been used or is intended for use in dogfighting.

B. "Dogfighting" means an organized event wherein there is a display of combat between two or more dogs in which the fighting, killing, maiming, or injuring of a dog is the significant feature, or main purpose, of the event.

C. Whoever violates any provision of Paragraphs (1) through (5) and (7) of Subsection A of this Section shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars, or be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than ten years, or both.

D. Whoever violates Paragraph (6) of Subsection A of this Section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

E. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit any of the following activities:

(1) The use of dogs for hunting.

(2) The use of dogs for management of livestock by the owner, his employees or agents, or any other person having lawful custody of livestock.

(3) The training of dogs or the possession or use of equipment in the training of dogs for any purpose not prohibited by law.

(4) The possessing or owning of dogs with ears cropped or otherwise surgically altered for cosmetic purposes.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 432, §1. Acts 1984, No. 661, §1; Acts 1993, No. 1002, §1; Acts 2001, No. 547, §1; Acts 2001, No. 734, §1, eff. June 25, 2001.

§102.7. Search warrant for dogfighting offenses

If complaint is made, by affidavit, to any magistrate authorized to issue search warrants in criminal cases, that the complainant has reason to believe that R.S. 14:102.5 has been violated within the past forty-eight hours, is being, or will be violated in any building or place, such magistrate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a search warrant authorizing any law enforcement officer competent by law to make arrests for such offenses to make a search of said building or place, and to arrest any person found violating R.S. 14:102.5. This Section shall not be construed as a limitation on the power of law enforcement officers to seize animals or evidence at the time of arrest.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 432, §1.