§ 6.04.040. Animal care.

A.

Every owner/guardian/caretaker of an animal within Porter County shall see that his/her animal(s):

1.

Is kept in a clean, sanitary and healthy manner and is not confined so as to be forced to stand, sit, lie in or continuously come into contact with its own excrement;

2.

Has proper and adequate food, water, shelter and protection from the weather;

3.

Is given due medical care and treatment for any obvious or apparent ailments, and if diseased segregated from other animals so as to prevent the transmittal of disease in accord with the guidelines set forth in I.C. § 15-17-10 et seq.;

4.

If kept in an enclosure, that the enclosure is appropriate to the individual species and/or breed of the animal, and that said enclosure provides for the following:

(A)

Keeps the animal clean and dry;

(B)

Prevents the animal's injury or escape;

(C)

Permits the animal to rest on a solid surface; and

(D)

Appropriate flooring, which does not permit the animals feet or legs to fall through;

5.

No person shall beat, torment, overload, overwork, or otherwise abuse an animal;

6.

No person shall willfully or maliciously administer poisonous substances to any animal and/or expose any poisonous substance with the intent that the substance shall be taken and consumed by the animal; however, this provision is not meant to prohibit the use of commercially sold poisons for the control of rats, mice groundhogs, moles or other similar rodents so long as the person administering the poisons takes reasonable care to ensure that domestic pets and livestock are not exposed to the poisons.

7.

No person shall tether a domestic pet for more than one hour without immediate access to food, water and shelter, or in such a fashion that violates the sections of this chapter and Indiana State Law; or to tether any un-sterilized dog for any period of time unless it is monitored by a competent adult for the duration of such tethering; or to tether or confine an animal at a vacant structure or premises for any purpose or time when it is not monitored by a competent adult who is present at the property for the duration of such tethering or confinement.

8.

No person shall leave any animal unattended in a vehicle when the conditions in that vehicle would constitute a health hazard to the animal by exposure of the animal to extreme heat, cold, or other dangerous condition.

9.

Any person who is the operator of a motor vehicle which strikes or injuries any domestic pet or domestic livestock should stop at the scene of the accident and may render any such assistance as is safe and practicable and at a minimum report the accident to the appropriate law enforcement agency for the purposes of rendering aid to the animal and identifying its owner.

10.

No person shall recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally abandon or neglect any animals within that person's custody, protection or control, in violation of I.C. § 35-46-3-7.

11.

A person who violates paragraphs one (1) through (10) of this section commits an ordinance violation, and shall be fined as follows:

(A)

First offense: .....$50.00

(B)

Second offense: .....$75.00

(C)

Third and subsequent offenses: .....$100.00

(Ord. No. 15-06, 5-19-2015)