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Lafayette board upholds impoundment of dog 'Blue' after hearing on repeated DAA violations
Summary
After testimony from animal control staff and the dog's owner, the Lafayette City Board unanimously upheld the seizure of Blue, citing past biting and repeated failures to comply with a dangerous animal agreement.
The Lafayette City Board on Jan. 7 upheld an animal-control seizure, deciding unanimously to keep the dog Blue impounded after a hearing in which animal-control staff recounted prior bites and repeated noncompliance with a dangerous animal agreement.
Sarah Goens, chief of animal control for the City of Lafayette, told the board that a neighbor was bitten on the calf when Blue—then on a tie-out—could reach a sidewalk; she said the incident led to a dangerous animal agreement (DAA) in May 2025. Goens outlined the DAA’s requirements: the animal must wear a muzzle off its property, be leashed with a maximum length of six feet, be neutered and microchipped, and be supervised by a competent adult whenever outside.
Goens said Blue had continued to be found running loose after the DAA was issued and that keeping the animal restrained has been a struggle for the owner and others caring for the dog. "The impound should be held," she told the board, citing a bite on record and what she described as persistent negligence around restraint and supervision.
Aaron Gravely, an animal control officer for the city, said he responded on Jan. 7, 2026, to a report of dogs running at large near 14th and Union, located Blue running in a field, and seized the dog for DAA violations because Blue was loose and un-muzzled. Gravely recommended upholding the seizure, saying he believed return of the dog would likely result in further ordinance violations.
The dog’s owner, identified in the appeal as Joshua Bowser, acknowledged Blue slips out occasionally and pleaded for the animal’s return, saying, "He's my best friend" and asking the board to let him have Blue back. Bowser said Blue "never bit anybody off property," and provided a current address listed in the record as 80 Ironwood Court, Apartment B.
After hearing staff testimony and Bowser’s statement, the chair said he had "heard nothing in my hearing to overturn the recommendation of our ACOs" and moved to uphold the seizure. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously by voice vote; the board directed animal control staff to speak with Bowser about next steps following the hearing.
What this means: The board’s decision keeps Blue in impound pending any administrative or legal steps the owner may pursue; animal control officers cited public-safety concerns and a documented bite and described ongoing difficulties ensuring compliance with the DAA.
