New Orleans cracks down on dog breeding

New Orleans

-- The Big Easy is is taking a hard line on irresponsible pet ownership, according to a new ordinance recently enacted by its city council.

A new ordinance, passed unanimously on May 6, will mandate spaying and neutering through a new dog permit program. The program would require dog owners to spay or neuter all canines older than 6 months or purchase a special “intact dog” permit, which will cost $20 per year.

The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA) will oversee the program and have the right to grant or deny the intact dog permits. Denied permit requests can be appealed to city council.

“This ordinance aims to control the unregulated breeding of violent and vicious dogs by putting in place some requirements for dog owners,” says the ordinance’s author, New Orleans’ council member Cynthia Hedge-Morrell. “We are not trying to target responsible dog owners with this legislation; our goal is to provide the irresponsible dog owners with incentives to take responsibility for their dogs and ensure that their dogs are appropriately care for and socialized with other dogs, as well as people.”