Loose livestock a problem in parish

Livestock running loose on parish roads has become a problem in rural areas of the parish.

A related problem is finding a place to put this loose livestock when it is rounded up.

Brad Andrus, attorney for the Acadia Parish Police Jury, was scheduled to meet with Keith Latiola, chief deputy of the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, to iron out a solution.

The sheriff’s office is one of the law enforcement entities specifically named in the ordinance as responsible for rounding up and impounding livestock — including horses, mules, asses, cattle, swine, sheep or goats — roaming at large on public roadways.

Other entities include constables, justices of the peace and state police.

Some of the livestock has been impounded at the Rice Arena, but officials want that practice to stop.

“If you get one horse that has to be quarantined while it is at the Arena, you can forget about having events there — no more rodeos, shows, nothing,” said Juror A.J. “Jay” Credeur, during a meeting of the police jury’s Legislative Committee Tuesday night.

There was talk of building a pen “out of the way” on Rice Arena property. There also was talk of utilizing “some of the many acres of parish-owned property” — specifically, some of land adjacent to the parish jail — as a pen for impounded animals.

The use of property adjacent to the jail seemed particularly attractive to some jurors because of the idea of having inmates (trustees) charged with caring for the animals while they are impounded.

“We need to do something,” said Greg Richard, a member of the sheriff’s posse. “I don’t like getting called out at all hours to pick up these animals.”

Richard suggested that the parish Animal Control officer and staff be made responsible for impounding the officers.

However, Tim Benoit, Animal Control officer, pointed out that the parish shelter is hard-pressed to house and care for all the stray dogs that are impounded across the parish.

It was pointed out that the parish also owns property adjacent to the animal shelter.

Andrus is expected to present his report when the full jury meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13.