IBERIA PARISH (NEW IBERIA) — A cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Iberia and Iberia Parish, in place since 2018, was intended to provide consistent rabies and animal control services; but residents and law enforcement say the system isn’t working.

Now, both city officials and parish leaders are publicly calling for change.

Last week, Iberia Parish President M. Larry Richard informed New Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt that the parish will not renew its contract for animal control services—set to expire in March 1, 2026.

“Last Thursday, I got a phone call from the parish president..." said DeCourt. "...That gives me a six-month window to try to figure something out.”

Richard said the situation has evolved far beyond the original scope of the agreement.

“When we started

See Full Page