Shelter Inspection Program
Shelter Inspection Program
The Shelter Inspection Program is an agency/shelter inspection process that works to improve public animal shelters in our state. The purpose is to assist agencies in achieving their goals of offering a quality, effective shelter to the animals and communities they serve.
The inspection process is thorough and comprehensive in nature, offering recommendations in a wide range of shelter operation areas. The recommendations are given to the appropriate local governing authority and shelter leadership for improvements to their facilities and operations.
The Shelter Inspection Program has the authority to request and retain shelter records concerning the operations of agencies and their compliance with state and local animal laws.
The objectives of the program are to:
- Make recommendations and advise publicly owned animal shelters concerning the care and keeping of animals..
- Promote and recommend guidance materials for shelter “Best Practices.”
- Through education and example, promote shelter improvements in hygiene, preventive medicine, public health and population control.
- Make recommendations to local communities to improve and increase compliance with state, parish, and local public health requirements.
- Recommend the implementation of a mandatory rabies registration and licensing law.
The inspection focuses on the following categories:
- Management
- Records
- General Structure
- Water & Electric Power
- Waste Disposal
- Storage
- Primary Enclosures
- Feeding & Watering
- Pest Control
- Rabies Quarantine
- Infection Control & Rabies Vaccination Requirements
- Population Control
- Animal Euthanasia