Animals to humans offered appeals

Seven supportive speakers had their say and two letters of confirmation were read as members of the Terrebonne Parish Council gave their official support to an ordinance that puts new teeth in animal control.

More than half of Thursday’s one hour and three minute council meeting (which included a three minute recess) was spent hearing citizen support of the measure that requires leashes on animals in public parks and playgrounds, owner removal of any animal waste in public areas, and ranges to cover as violations of law including animal licensing, public disturbances caused by animals, restrictions of violent animals and the requirement of fees being charged to anyone breeding animals.

“This thing isn’t perfect, but it really takes a big step forward,” Councilman Kevin Voisin said.

While no public opposition was voiced regarding the animal ordinance, Voisin along with other council members and Council Clerk Charlette Poche said they had received numerous calls from both people wanting more restrictions and those feeling that the ordinance was unfairly by singling out their animals by taking aim at dangerous animals.

The updated animal ordinance was in the making throughout 2011, and gained momentum after Councilman Billy Hebert made a strong appeal when two children were attacked by pit bulls in separate incidents and called for a dangerous ordinance. Hebert did not comment during open discussion prior to the vote.

Under the amended law, a dangerous dog is identified as any dog that has previously been declared dangerous by any Louisiana court or by the parish hearing panel.

To be designated as dangerous the dog in question must, when unprovoked, engaged in behavior that requires defensive action on the part of a person. A dog biting people or other animals when unprovoked whether on or off the owner’s property and resulting in injuries or death is also described as dangerous.

Exclusions to being declared include: injuries inflicted by the animal if a victim was in the process of committing a crime on the dog owner’s property, injured resulting from the animal being tormented or abused by the victim, if the dog is working or hunting, or if the dog is protecting another person that has been attacked by the bitten individual.

The issue addressed by those that spoke in favor of the amended ordinance dealt with animal abuse, abandonment and confinement.

State laws address, and are adopted by the parish, to prohibit simple or aggravated animal abuse including confinement of animals or withholding food and water. Neglect or abandonment of animals could result in the owner being slapped with a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.

The 24-page animal ordinance includes requirement on tags and collars for dogs and cats, charges for redemption of impounded animals, outlawing the possession of exotic and wild animals pets, and rabies control requirements.

The amended law also specifies it to be unlawful to restrict or interfere with any animal control officer in the performance of his or her duties. Violations could result in fines of up to $500 or 30 days in jail.

In other public appeals, Mickey Fonesca, who chairs the Terrebonne Parish Advisory Committee for Disability Affairs, asked the council to seek participants willing to be involved in the committee that addresses accessibility, health needs and equal opportunity for handicapped individuals of the parish.

“We have a dilemma,” Fonesca told the council during the agenda section for public comment. “Our committee members feel that our services are not meeting the [needs of] the community and some of our committee members are asking that [the committee] be dissolved because nobody is giving us feedback on disability issues.”

Fonesca, has long pointed out needs for the disabled of the area, but said that without greater public participation those needs could go unmet.

“I’ve tried to get more membership on my committee … with suggestions [to committee members] … and feedback … but they didn’t want to do it,” the disabilities advocate said. “I’m asking for the advice of the [parish] council and how they want to handle the situation.”

Fonesca was not offered any specific recommendations or commitment from parish council, but both Councilmen Alvin Tillman and Kevin Voisin voiced support of his efforts.

“I don’t particularly agree that there is a lack of interest from the public in terms of what you are doing,” Tillman said. “It is necessary [to have] this committee and maybe we could get some more people interested in what you guys are trying to do.”

“A lot of these little committees seem irrelevant until an issue happens,” Voisin said. “Sometimes there is a little lull before there is something that might need to be done. It is important to have that group of people there. You’ve done great things in the past. You’ll do great things again. You are in a little lull but that doesn’t mean it is over. That’s the nature of this thing.

“When there is a need you will be there and I don’t want to see us lose this pool of people for when there is a big need,” he continued. “Maybe today there is not a big issue that galvanizes people, but that could happen tomorrow.”

The parish council adopted the first of two required resolutions before a public vote can be scheduled to allow Terrebonne Parish to enter a consumer agreement with the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District.

The issue of maintaining a fresh water resource was first brought before the council in August when officials with the Consolidated Waterworks District 1 reported that an existing contract between Terrebonne Parish and the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District was set to expire in August 2014.

Only 24 months away from having a 40-year contact expire, which has Terrebonne Parish paying only 3 cents per 1,000 gallons of fresh water, could leave Terrebonne residents thirsting for a water source if a new contract is not established before then.

Currently, 80 percent of Terrebonne Parish’s fresh water supply is drawn from Bayou Lafourche.

Council members adopted the resolution without any discussion. Consolidated Water District 1 General Manager Tom Wilson had previously explained that any contract is expected to include a rate increase of possibly as much as 30 percent.

“We will be coming back to the council at a later date to set a date for the election,” Consolidated Waterworks District 1 Board Chairman Al Boudreaux said. “It takes two resolutions to [be able to move a measure to public vote] and this is the first of two.”

A public vote on any contract agreement cannot take place before November 2012.

Agreeing that with a new parish council taking office in January 2012, existing members, of which only Councilpersons Pete Lambert and Arlanda Williams will be returning, unanimously voted to delay the appointment of individuals to five boards until the new council is in place.

Delays of appointment include positions on the Bayou Blue Fire Protection District, Recreation District No. 1, Downtown Development Corporation, Houma Public Trust Financing Authority and the Terrebonne Parish Communications District.

Individuals currently in seated positions on these boards will remain in office until new appointees are named.