Bossier Parish committee directs feasibility study on expanding animal control after sheriff's office flags legal gaps

The Animal Control Committee of the Bossier Parish Police Jury voted informally to pursue research into expanding parish animal control services after the sheriff’s office outlined legal and operational barriers to handling nuisance animals. Committee member Julianna Parks told the meeting that the parish currently meets statutory obligations but has no budget to provide additional services, saying “the parish is not statutorily required to provide these services, and there is no budget for the services.”

Major Mike Gibson of the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office told the committee that deputies handle animal-control calls that rise to criminal conduct, such as dog bites, and secure animals pending charges, but they lack authority to seize animals in non-criminal nuisance cases. Dr. Ken Ward, Parish Administrator, said he will continue researching options and “move forward with a feasibility study for further consideration and discussion by the Animal Control Committee.” The committee did not adopt any ordinance or set a formal election timetable at the meeting; the study is intended to project costs, service models, and funding options before any formal proposal is developed.