Be a Good Animal Owner

In the U.S., 6-8 million homeless animals end up in shelters every year. Over 1 million pets in the U.S. are infected with heartworms (an easily preventable disease). The Humane Society estimates that over 1 million animals per year are involved in cases of animal cruelty/neglect. Many pet owners are unaware or unconcerned that the manner in which they are keeping their animals may be violating state law and local ordinances. You can be a part of changing these statistics. The information provided below is given with the intention to inform, educate, and provide animal owners with the tools they need to give their animals a great home.

Know The Law

Part of being a responsible animal owner is knowing the state and local laws that govern the keeping of animals. Keeping your animal in a lawful manner is not only good for your animal, but it can also prevent an unwanted visit from animal control or having your animal impounded at the animal control shelter. You can read the ordinances that govern the keeping of animals in West Baton Rouge Parish here.

Animal Cruelty/Neglect

Treating or keeping your animal in a cruel or inhumane manner is not only an awful thing to do, but it is also against state and local laws and can lead to criminal prosecution. State Law (14:102 and following) and WBR Parish Ordinances Chapter 14 deal with defining animal cruelty/neglect and the prescribed penalties if convicted. As the owner of an animal, you must provide that animal with proper food, water, shelter, and veterinary care at all times. State Law (14:102.2) defines proper food, water, shelter, and veterinary care as the following: "proper food means providing each animal with daily food of sufficient quality and quantity to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal. Proper water means providing each animal with daily water of sufficient quality and quantity to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal. Proper shelter means providing each animal with adequate shelter from the elements as required to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal. Proper veterinary care means providing each animal with veterinary care sufficient to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering by the animal." If you would like to report a suspected case of cruelty/neglect you can call our main office at 225-336-2428.

Veterinary care

As an animal owner, you should provide your animal with proper veterinary care. Besides medical care, a good veterinarian can also provide you with recommendations on a good diet, heartworm/flea preventatives, training services, and a host of other things to help your animals live their best life.

Local Veterinarian Services:

Rivertown Animal Hospital / Brusly, LA / 225-749-5000

Spay Spa / Erwinville, LA / 225-627-5772

Equine Health Maintenance (Dr. Dina Duplantis mobile veterinary services) / Erwinville, LA / 225-324-3962

H & M Veterinary Services / Erwinville, LA / 225-627-6138

LSU Small Animal Hospital / Baton Rouge, LA / 225-578-9600

LSU Large Animal Hospital / Baton Rouge, LA / 225-578-9500

Associated Veterinarian Services / Baton Rouge, LA / 225-928-4417

Carville Veterinary Clinic / Plaquemine, LA / 225-687-7387

Animal Medical Center / Plaquemine, LA / 225-687-6016

Heartworms and preventatives

If you are the owner of a dog, cat, or ferret, listen up! A heartworm infection can be a potentially life-threatening problem for your pet and it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito for the process to begin. A heartworm infection causes not only a serious medical condition for your pet, but it can be spread by a mosquito bite from your pet to other animals.

Due to the subtropical climate, Louisiana is home to several species of mosquito that are capable of transmitting heartworm. The Southern House Mosquito (Cx. Quinquefasiatus), The Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes Albopictus), and The Inland Floodwater Mosquito (Aedes Vexans) are the most prevalent vector species in our area.

Louisiana ranks second in the nation for the highest incidence of heartworm infections. In the southern portion of Louisiana, the infection rate is thought to be as high as 80% in dogs over 2 years old.

The good news is that heartworm infections are easily preventable. Make sure your animal is under the care of a veterinarian and follow the recommended guidelines for heartworm testing and preventative application. For more information regarding heartworms and what you can do to prevent them, you can visit the American Heartworm Society website here.