Bossier Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis
- Behavior, not breed (Sec. 14-50)
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 5059, March 5, 2025
- Leash limit
- 6-foot chain or leash on streets
- Enforcement
- Sheriff's dept. or rabies control unit
- Unclaimed dogs
- Sale, adoption or euthanasia
Summary
Bossier Parish does not restrict dogs by breed; instead, Code Section 14-50 defines an 'aggressive dog' by conduct, such as biting without provocation or menacing people from an insufficient enclosure, and requires any aggressive dog to be leashed with a chain no longer than six feet whenever it is on a street, with seizure authorized for violations.
Aggressive dog means a dog that meets one of the following conditions: (1)Bites, assaults, or otherwise attacks a person without provocation on the property of the owner and causes serious bodily injury to the person, provided that the person is on the property of the owner with the owner's consent or invitation; ... No aggressive dog shall be allowed to run or be upon any street unless such dog is under the immediate control of a competent person and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length. Aggressive dogs found by the parish sheriff's department or rabies control unit to be at large may be seized and impounded.
Full Breakdown
Bossier Parish has no breed-specific ban; the Police Jury regulates dangerous dogs by behavior under Code Section 14-50, added by Ordinance No. 5059 on March 5, 2025. The section defines an 'aggressive dog' as one that bites, assaults or otherwise attacks a person without provocation on the owner's property and causes serious bodily injury to a person who was there with the owner's consent; attacks and injures domestic animals; behaves in a way that would make a person of normal sensibilities fear an attack from inside an insufficient enclosure; or interferes with the freedom of movement of people in a public right-of-way regardless of where the dog was standing.
Once a dog meets one of those four conditions, Section 14-50 bars it from running or being on any street unless a competent person keeps it under immediate control on a substantial chain or leash no longer than six feet. The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Department or the parish rabies control unit may seize and impound any aggressive dog found at large. 00 fine or 30 days in jail, or both. Once seized, the owner of an aggressive dog must pay any fines plus pickup and maintenance costs before reclaiming the animal; if no owner comes forward, Section 14-50 authorizes the parish to dispose of the dog by sale, adoption or euthanasia.
Violations & Fines
Letting an aggressive dog run loose on a street without a six-foot-or-shorter chain or leash violates Section 14-50 and can lead to seizure by the sheriff's department or rabies control unit; the owner must pay any fine plus pickup and maintenance fees to reclaim the dog, and an unclaimed dog may be sold, adopted out or euthanized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bossier Parish ban pit bulls or other specific breeds?
What must I do if my dog is declared aggressive?
What happens to a seized aggressive dog nobody claims?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bossier Parish
How Bossier Parish compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Bossier Parish to another location·View the Louisiana animal ordinances overview
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