Ascension Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Sec. 5-47(a) requires every owner of a dog or a cat to register the animal with the parish, pay the registration fee, and affix the tag to the animal's collar, renewed yearly; a participating veterinarian can handle the registration. Sec. 5-47(b) bars registering an animal unless the owner shows a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and (c) requires the treating veterinarian to supply the rabies tag when the vaccine is given. The annual fee under Sec. 5-47(e) is $10 for a neutered or spayed cat and $20 for an unaltered one; the veterinarian who issues the tag keeps $1 of the $10 fee or $2 of the $20 fee under Sec.

5-47(f), and the remainder goes to Ascension Parish Government. Working, stock or government/police cats and dogs are exempt under the section's exception clause, and community cats are exempt from the tag-wearing requirement specifically. Sec. 5-47(k) requires veterinary hospitals, clinics, feed stores and pet supply shops that sell vaccines to post a sign stating the vaccination, registration and tagging requirements, and warning that a violation carries fines up to $500 and/or 30 days' imprisonment. The animal control and rescue center recognizes valid registration tags issued by other parishes or out-of-state counties if the owner can produce a current certificate. This rule applies only in unincorporated Ascension Parish; Gonzales, Donaldsonville and Sorrento license animals under their own municipal codes.