Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Caddo Parish animal services reports 270 free rabies shots, 181 microchips; outlines feral‑hog and mosquito actions
Loading...
Summary
At a Public Safety Committee meeting, Caddo Parish animal services reported 270 rabies vaccinations and 181 microchips at a recent clinic, described feral-hog removals funded by a $40,000 allocation, and outlined mosquito-control plans including free BTI granules and drone application; officials urged public safety measures.
Kelvin, an animal-services representative, told the Caddo Parish Public Safety Committee that the department administered "270 free rabies shots" and distributed "181 microchips" at a recent clinic, saving attendees an estimated $50–$60 per animal on combined services.
The clinic data led into a broader briefing on the department’s public-health and nuisance-animal work. "Rabies is a very serious zoonotic disease," Kelvin said, urging residents to avoid handling stray or wild animals and to rely on Animal Services for active cases. He said officers use microchip scanners in their vehicles to reunite animals with owners where possible.
Kelvin also reviewed the parish’s feral-hog control effort, saying the team has removed "at least over 50" animals, including one about 300 pounds. He thanked the committee for allocating "40,000" to the program and said the department "only utilized 10" to purchase a large trap described as a "game changer pro" (the transcript did not specify units for the smaller amount mentioned).
On vector control, Kelvin told the committee the parish runs mosquito operations across roughly 900 square miles, begins the season using permethrin and supplements larval control with BTI granules. "We have 8 trucks," he said, and described a drone capable of distributing BTI granules to remote sites. He added that BTI packets are available free at 1500 Monte Street and that residents may call Animal Services at (318) 226‑6624 for requests or guidance.
Committee members asked for outreach tools to help residents identify larval breeding sites; one commissioner suggested producing a short video demonstrating the stages of mosquito development so people can recognize larval habitats. Kelvin said the granules are bird- and fish‑safe and recommended that beekeepers register to avoid spray on their property.
Why it matters: Rabies vaccinations and microchipping reduce public‑health risk and shelter intake; feral‑hog removal addresses property damage and public safety; early-season mosquito controls aim to limit vector-borne disease spread.
The committee did not take a formal vote on animal-services items; staff answered questions and agreed to follow up on outreach materials.
