State guide
Louisiana
Louisiana animal control is typically handled locally by parish or city animal control or animal shelter programs, though law enforcement also appears in bite-reporting and quarantine rules. Wildlife help is split between the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for nuisance, injured, and orphaned wildlife, and the Louisiana Department of Health for rabies guidance and the state public health veterinarian.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually parish or city animal control, animal shelter, or animal services offices handle domestic animal issues; local law enforcement is also part of Louisiana’s bite-reporting system.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Louisiana law says a health care provider who examines or treats a person bitten by an animal, or seriously injured by one, must report it to the law enforcement or animal control agency where it occurred.
- State rabies contact
- Louisiana Department of Health, State Public Health Veterinarian
Official resources in Louisiana
Official state guidance on what to do with injured, orphaned, or sick wildlife and when to contact a rehabilitator or LDWF office.
Official searchable list of LDWF-permitted wildlife rehabilitators by parish and species.
Official Louisiana rabies and veterinary public health page with bite, quarantine, testing, and contact resources.
Official statute describing reporting duties after animal bites or serious animal injuries.
Key facts for Louisiana
- LDWF says if you cannot find a permitted wildlife rehabilitator, contact your local LDWF office or call 800-442-2511 for assistance.
- LDH says its veterinary resources include protocols for animal bites, rabies exposures, quarantine, and rabies testing forms.
- Louisiana law says a health care provider treating an animal bite or serious animal injury must report it to local law enforcement or animal control.
- LDWF says nuisance wildlife control operators are not employees of LDWF or the State of Louisiana.
- The LDH veterinary page lists Amy Bunch, DVM, as State Public Health Veterinarian and gives 504-722-3094 as the contact number.
Local animal control offices in Louisiana
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Control & Rescue Center East Baton Rouge Parish | Baton Rouge | 225-774-7700 | City-parish animal control with public health and safety functions; investigates complaints, enforces animal codes, and handles emergencies after hours. |
| Jefferson Protection & Animal Welfare Services Jefferson Parish | Harvey | 504-349-5111 | Parish agency that handles stray pets, bite quarantines, cruelty and neglect investigations, and animal control enforcement. |
| Lafayette Animal Shelter & Care Center Lafayette Parish | Lafayette | (337) 291-5644 | Municipal shelter and animal control program; the official FAQ says animal control officers are on emergency call after hours for dangerous animals or bite cases. |
| New Orleans Humane Law & Rescue Orleans Parish | New Orleans | Not published* | Louisiana SPCA says it is contracted by the City of New Orleans to provide animal control services in Orleans Parish and emergency response 24/7. |
| Caddo Parish Department of Animal Services Caddo Parish | Shreveport | 318-226-6624 | The City of Shreveport says this office handles dangerous, nuisance, and uncontrollable animals for the area. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If wildlife is injured or orphaned, first check LDWF guidance, then contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or your LDWF regional office.
- If a dog, cat, or ferret bites someone, make the local animal control or law-enforcement report promptly so quarantine rules can start.
- For rabies questions after an exposure, use the LDH veterinary resources page and contact the State Public Health Veterinarian’s office.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Louisiana's population center, for comparison only):
- Biloxi Police Department Animal Control, Mississippi · about 151 miles
- Mobile County Animal Shelter, Alabama · about 199 miles
- City of Mobile Animal Shelter, Alabama · about 199 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.LDWF Injured/Orphaned Wildlife
Website →Phone: (800) 442-2511 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Louisiana page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.