New Orleans, Louisiana

• Spaying and neutering is mandatory for dogs over the age of 6 months.
• Certain animals can be exempted with an intact-dog permit.

Sec. 18-306. – Spaying and neutering requirements. Owner or keepers must spay or neuter all dogs over six months old. Owner or keeper may obtain an intact dog permit if the owner or keeper intends to keep the animal intact. Proof of spay/neuter or of intact dog permit must be provided by the owner or keeper when requested by the society. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 23970, § 1, 5-6-10)

Sec. 18-307. – Exceptions.
No person may own, keep, or harbor any dog within the city that has not been spayed or neutered unless:
(a) The dog is under six months of age;
(b) A licensed veterinarian certifies that the dog should not be spayed or neutered for a specific reason. The certificate must list the veterinarian’s license number and the date by which the dog can be spayed or neutered. Within 30 days of the effective date of this division, or within 30 days of taking possession or ownership of an intact dog, the owner or keeper must submit written documentation which can be verified by the society and the owner or keeper must apply for and obtain an intact dog permit.
(c) The dog has been present in the city for less than 30 days;
(d) The owner or keeper has obtained, or has submitted, an application for an intact dog permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(e) The dog is used by a government or law enforcement agency or an agent thereof for government, rescue, law enforcement, or other government purposes. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 23970, § 1, 5-6-10)

Sec. 18-308. – Requiring an intact dog permit.
No person shall harbor or keep any intact dog within the city without first obtaining a permit as provided in this chapter.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 23970, § 1, 5-6-10)

Sec. 18-309. – Granting or denying a permit.
The society maintains the right to grant or deny an intact dog permit. However, an aggrieved owner has the right to appeal a decision of the society to the city council within 30 days of the decision.
(a) [Permit nontransferable.] The society shall issue to the owner or keeper of any dog a nontransferable permit that expires annually on December 31.
(b) [Multiple owners.] If more than one owner or keeper is involved in the breeding process, each party must be listed on the application for an intact dog permit.
(c) [Individual permits.] each dog individually.
(d) Permit requirements. The permit may be applied for from the society if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The owner or keeper has submitted the appropriate forms and fees required by the society in order to seek consideration for an intact dog permit including, but not limited to, a written description of the dog, proof of current vaccinations, and photograph.
(2) The dog has been microchipped and the registered microchip number is included on the application. The cost of the permit application fee will cover the cost of the microchip and implantation if performed by the society.
(3) The owner can provide proof of current vaccinations for rabies, distemper and parvo virus.
(4) Owners or keepers shall not allow female dogs to breed before 18 months of age or to have more than onetter [sic] per year.
(5) The intact permit number must be displayed when advertising the puppies for sale or adoption.
(6) No animal under sixeks [sic] old may be sold, adopted or given away.
(7) Upon approval of his/her application, the applicant must pay the initial $10.00 permit application fee plus a prorated portion of the $20.00 annual permit fee. Proration will be quarterly based. The annual renewal fee will be $20.00, due and payable by January 1 of each year.
(e) Permit denial. At the society’s discretion, the permit may be denied if one or more of the following occur and have not been corrected and brought into compliance within ten days of notification of noncompliance:
(1) The applicant fails to pay the permit fee within two weeks of notification that the application has been approved. If the owner or keeper does not provide payment, the owner or keeper will be cited in violation of this chapter, and all fines and penalties will be applied.
(2) The applicant has failed to meet all permit requirements listed in subsections (d)(1) through (4).
(3) The applicant has been cited for allowing dogs to roam at large, been found to be guilty of cruelty, has had his/her dog identified as dangerous or vicious; or has been determined within the past 12 months to have violated any provisions of chapter 18.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 23970, § 1, 5-6-10)

Sec. 18-310. – Delinquency.
(a) When a permit is more than 30 days delinquent, the society shall forward the name, address and vital information of the owner or keeper to the city health department and issue a citation.
(b) Failure to receive notice shall not relieve the animal owner or keeper of the obligations under this article [division].
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 23970, § 1, 5-6-10)

Sec. 18-311. – Fines for failure to comply with permit requirements.
(a) A violation of division 5 of this article shall be an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $100.00 per dog for the first violation, a fine not to exceed $250.00 per dog upon a second violation, and impoundment along with a fine not to exceed $500.00 per dog upon the third and subsequent violations.
(b) If, after 15 days of a first citation, the owner or keeper fails to provide proof of a permit or proof of having the dog spayed/neutered, the owner/keeper shall be cited for an additional violation.
(c) If the dog is impounded for a third or subsequent violation, the owner or keeper must pay the surgery deposit to the society or obtain an intact dog permit within ten days of impoundment or the owner or keeper shall relinquish the dog(s) to the society for disposition.
(d) If a permit is not renewed on time, a $10.00 per day late fee will be assessed in addition to the renewal fee. If the permit is not renewed within 15 days of the annual expiration, a first violation shall be issued.
(e) In the event that the society determines that payment of any fees by the owner or keeper of the impounded dog would cause extreme financial difficulty to the owner or keeper, the society may waive all or any portion of the fees assessed for compliance with this section.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 23970, § 1, 5-6-10)

Sec. 18-312. – Duplicate permits prohibited.
No person shall knowingly reproduce or counterfeit an intact dog permit or issue the permit to a dog other than the dog for whom the permit application was made and the permit number assigned pursuant to this article without the express authorization of the society. Any person who is found to be in possession of a counterfeit intact dog permit will be in violation of this chapter and shall be issued a citation in accordance with section 18-311.

No person shall counterfeit a veterinary certification. Any person who is found to be in possession of a counterfeit veterinary certification shall be in violation of this chapter and shall be issued a citation in accordance with section 18-353.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 23970, § 1, 5-6-10)