Terrebonne council considers stricter pet ordinances

Terrebonne Parish Council members are working toward an ordinance that would require more humane restraint of animals to help prevent them from building aggression toward anyone they come in contact with. 

Councilman John Navy proposed strengthening tethering laws. The discussion will continue at the next Policy, Procedure and Legal Committee meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Parish Attorney Courtney Alcock is working with the council and the parish animal shelter to strengthen some of the penalties and requirements of the parish’s animal code. 

“We’re looking at increasing some of the fines and coming up with some legislation on the tethering of dogs to require a more humane system and one that won’t engender hostility,” Alcock said. 

Valerie Robinson, animal shelter manager, said there is a difference between restraint and tethering. 

“You can’t put your dog at the end of a chain and let it live its life that way,” Robinson said. “Not being able to get off of that chain becomes very frustrating for them and bites are known to happen that way.”  

The shelter manager suggested a trolley system, which would allow dogs to roam more freely. Robinson said the trolley system should have strict restrictions that would allow the animal to tether at least 15 feet, while the weight of the trolley system would also have to be regulated so that the animal is not carrying added weight with their movements. 

“Our goal is to enhance the lives of dogs,” Robinson said, adding that tethering helps to reduce aggression. “Aggressiveness is born from lack of socialization.” 

The council is also considering increasing the fee for pet owners who violate the restriction of keeping a dangerous dog from $300 to $500. 

Since January 2012 when Terrebonne’s pet ordinances were retouched, there have been 22 cases of potential dangerous dogs. 

“That means we impounded a dog that at one point was a possible dangerous dog,” Robinson said. 

Of those cases, most of the owners relinquished their animals to the shelter’s care prior to the parish having to take action, while other pet owners moved out of the parish because they did not want to comply. 

“I don’t think there is any opposition for charging someone who is negligent,” Robinson said in terms of caring, housing or restraining animals. 

“A responsible animal owner has to be considerate of the way they care for their animal. They also have to be considerate of the other general public that don’t have animals who may fear animals,” Navy said. “Some of the misconception was that people thought that the dog has to bite someone to be labeled and that’s not necessarily true.”