Council approves changes to animal-control code and starts new contract with chip-reader pickup service

The New Iberia City Council approved an ordinance amending Section 14-31 of the city code related to rabies and animal-control definitions and discussed operational changes tied to a new contract.

The mayor and council members described the new animal-control contractor as starting this week. Council discussed steps to document calls through dispatch so the city can track daily activity and outcomes. The mayor said the contractor will carry a chip reader "so that when he can scan the dogs" the city can return pets to owners instead of taking them to the shelter.

Council members emphasized public outreach. The mayor said billboards and social media posts are planned to promote spay-and-neuter efforts and to make residents aware of the new service. Members discussed signage for the PepperPlex site separately and suggested visible identification for the animal-control vehicle; one councilor suggested a magnet reading "City of New Iberia Animal Control."

On enforcement, the council discussed issuing citations for leash-law violations as a next step after warnings; officers typically warn first and ticket repeat offenders. Council directed staff to provide periodic updates on program finances, numbers of animals picked up and adopted, and other performance metrics.

The ordinance was moved, seconded and approved; the transcript records the discussion during the public-hearing and post-hearing portion of the item but does not publish a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.