Supporters of St. Landry Parish Animal Control & Rescue are calling on the parish council to update the animal control ordinances.
This comes a week after the sheriff’s office recommended misdemeanor charges against the shelter director for alleged protocol violations.
During Wednesday night’s council meeting, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz defended his office’s investigation into the animal shelter while pleading for the parish council to update the law.
“You need to fix the ordinance that we have on the books, so the sheriff can properly conduct the investigation, using the proper terms, the proper laws,” the sheriff said while addressing the council.
Dozens showed up to the packed meeting, including backers of the shelter who agree it’s time for the laws to be changed.
“The sheriff is not allowed to enforce some of his laws because he’s limited by the council, who’s not letting him enforce some of these animal laws because they’re not updating the old ordinances,” said Rachel Ducharme, supporter of St. Landry Parish Animal Control & Rescue.
Parish President Bill Fontenot says the council is working with an attorney to update the ordinances.
“A lawyer is going to work with us on our committee. We’re going to try to rewrite these ordinances. We’re going to review them all, rewrite them, put them in one solid piece of legislation, and it will be brought before the council,” said Fontenot.
As KATC previously reported, the investigation into the animal shelter is now in the hands of the district attorney.
