Most people, unfortunately, only think about pets and the law after someone has been bitten. This section cannot begin to address all of the legal issues involved. It is here to inform the reader that there are many laws about dog and cat bites, animals that are deemed to be dangerous, and liability insurance. Portions of some laws will be listed, but there isn't room to list them fully.
Sec. 14:204. - Owner's responsibility.
(a) Threats to public health and safety. The owner or possessor of any dog shall be held responsible and liable for any and all actions taken by said dog, including but not limited to:
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Sec. 14:212. - Dog and cat bite cases.
(a) Dog and cat bite case in general:
(1) The breaking of the skin of a human being by a dog or cat shall be considered a bite case; .......
Sec. 14:208. - Potentially dangerous dog, dangerous dog, vicious dog.
(a) Level 1—Potentially dangerous dog:
(1) A dog may be classified as "potentially dangerous" if such dog constitutes a menace to public health or safety. In order for a dog to be classified as "potentially dangerous," one (1) of the following incidents shall occur:
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(a)For the purposes of this section, the term "dangerous dog" means:
(1)Any dog which, when unprovoked, on two (2) separate occasions within the prior 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury that occurs when the person and the animal are off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal;
(2)Any dog which, when unprovoked, bites a person causing an injury and is capable of causing serious bodily injury;
(3)Any dog which, when unprovoked, on two (2) separate occasions within the prior 36-month period, has killed, seriously bitten, inflicted injury, or otherwise caused injury to a domestic animal off the property of the owner of the animal; or(4)Any dog that has been deemed dangerous by another jurisdiction (i.e., another state, county, parish or municipality).
(Ord. No. 19-28 , 11-21-19)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, La R.S. 14:102.13-18
It shall be unlawful for any person to own a vicious dog. For the purposes of this section, the term "vicious dog" means any animal which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner:
(1)Inflicts serious bodily injury to a human being and was previously determined to be a dangerous dog under the criteria of section 4-8; or
(2)Kills any person.
(Ord. No. 19-28 , 11-21-19)
§102.14. Unlawful ownership of dangerous dog
A. For the purposes of this Section "dangerous dog" means:
(1) Any dog which when unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior thirty-six-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury when the person and the dog are off the property of the owner of the dog; or
(2) Any dog which, when unprovoked, bites a person causing an injury; or
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For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
Bite shall mean the breaking of the skin of a human being by an animal's teeth, mouth, claws or beak.
Dangerous dog means any dog that when unprovoked, shall be deemed a dangerous dog if it:
(1)Bites, injures, or inflicts a bite on a human being or domestic animal either upon public property or those areas of private property that are unfenced and normally accessible to the public.
(2)Chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks or public grounds in a terrorizing or menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack.
(3)Bites or injures animals or persons authorized to enter upon the owner's premises such as letter carriers, meter readers, trash collectors, repair persons, delivery persons or business customers provided that the persons authorized to enter upon the owner's premises shall not include unauthorized intruders such as burglars or trespassers in the owner's business, house or apartment or within a fenced area on the premises not normally accessible to the public. The director and/or his agents shall make all determinations that a dog is a dangerous dog.
Sec. 14-16. - Owner's responsibilities.
Owners of dogs and cats shall be responsible for compliance with the following:
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4(c)Owners of animals that bite an individual are responsible for notifying CPAS.
