Louisiana's Cruelty to Animal Laws and the Animals They Protect

Cruelty to Animals Laws are in effect in Louisiana to protect animals from many types of torture and even death. The person or persons who are charged with this offense will face punishment if they are found guilty, but what happens to the animal? One would hope that the animal would not remain with the person charged with this crime for anytime after the crime has been brought to the attention of the proper authorities. Hopefully the animal in question is in such a condition that it can be helped and is not found dead.

When a person or persons have been charged with cruelty to an animal or animals, the animal or animals will be seized by the proper authorities, such as the arresting officer. This seizure must follow certain steps in order to be completed with no legal problems. The first step will be to actually seize the animal in question. Then the seizing officer has the duty to notify the owner of the said animal by posting a notice at the location where the animal was seized. This notice will have the information needed to make the person charged aware that the animal has been seized and removed from the locations or has simply been seized and place in the care of a person of age and discretion residing at the location where the animal is found. This notice must be given within twenty-four hours of the seizure of the animal.

After the animal has been seized and the notice has been posted at the location of the seizure, the seizing officer has to take pictures of the animal in question within fifteen days of the seizure and prepare an affidavit stating the condition that the animal was in when it was seized. The pictures taken during this time can be used in a court of law as evidence showing the condition of the animal, which of course, led to the charges filed against the person who was charged with cruelty to an animal. The affidavit written in connection with this animal, along with the pictures taken are considered evidence of the crime in question.