Louisiana laws
regulate when you take your new dog home.
If you want to adopt a dog in Louisiana, you must follow the state's laws. Louisiana's laws are designed to keep unwanted pets out of shelters and off the streets. If you fail to follow these laws, you risk fines and loss of your pet.
Instructions
1. Visit the Louisiana SPCA's Animal Rescue and Care Center in New Orleans, or the Humane Society of Louisiana online. Fill out the required survey. The SPCA does not offer an online survey. The Humane Society of Louisiana offers an online survey for potential adopters. This questionnaire helps the staff match a dog with your lifestyle and living situation. If the Humane Society does not have an office in your area, it will direct you to the nearest rescue group.
2. Visit the shelter. Spend time with dogs of interest. Shelters allow visitors to take dogs outside to see how the dogs react outside a kennel setting. Walk the dog around the property. Bring your children with you. Monitor the dog's behavior with your children.
3. Prepare for a home visit. Once you've chosen a dog you would like to adopt, shelter workers want to view the dog's potential home to make sure current pets are healthy. They also want to make sure you have the space for a pet in your home.
4. Contact a veterinarian. The staff at the Louisiana shelter will call your current vet for a reference. They do this to make sure vaccinations of any current are up-to-date. They also make sure your pet is spayed or neutered.
If you do not have a veterinarian, the organization will work with you to find a veterinarian in your area. The shelter may require you to make an appointment with the veterinarian before they'll release the dog to you. Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter requires all adopters to take the new dog to a veterinarian within 72 hours of adoption.
5. Introduce your dog. If you have other dogs, a meet and greet is necessary. Bring your dogs to a neutral location near the shelter. A staff member will bring the dog you've chosen. If the dogs get along, the adoption will proceed. If not, you may need to rethink your decision.
6. Fill out the adoption paperwork. You can pay the adoption fee with cash, credit card or personal check.
7. Visit the vet. Your dog must be neutered. This is the law. Until the procedure is completed, you will not be allowed to bring the dog home. If your new dog is younger than 6 months, you will sign a contract stating you will have the dog spayed or neutered by the date specified on the contract.
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