§102.18.  Seizure and disposition of dogs which cause death or inflict bodily injury

A.  Any law enforcement officer or animal control officer may seize any dog which when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, causes the death of or inflicts bodily injury on a human being.  Any dog seized pursuant to the provisions of this Section may be impounded pending the outcome of the hearing held in accordance with this Section.

B.  The district attorney, the sheriff, an animal control officer, or other designated representative, in the name of and on behalf of the parish, and without the payment of any costs, shall be authorized to file a petition in the district court having jurisdiction requesting a hearing for the purpose of determining whether or not a dog which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, causes the death of or inflicts bodily injury on a human being, shall be euthanized.

C.  The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the procedure provided in R.S. 14:102.13.

D.  A dog determined by the court to have, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, caused the death of or inflicted bodily injury on a human being may be humanely euthanized by the animal control agency, a licensed veterinarian, or a qualified technician.

E.  The owner of the dog shall be liable to the municipality or parish where the dog is impounded for the costs and expenses of keeping the dog if the dog is later adjudicated to have, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, caused the death or inflicted bodily injury on a human being.

Acts 2003, No. 563, §1.