Rescue shelters in Louisiana now face new restrictions as to how and when they can provide animals to research facilities. Gov. John Bel Edwards recently signed a new law prohibiting shelters from taking in stray or unwanted animals solely to euthanize them for research facilities. The law also bans the shelters from selling animals for research or experimentation. Any shelters that give living animals to research facilities must first try to find other placement for the animals. They must also take precautions to minimize pain to the animals and provide them for research under limited research circumstances. Houma Republican Rep. Jerome ``Zee'' Zeringue sponsored the new law, which takes effect Aug. 1.
Violators may face fines up to $1,000 for each violation.
