What are the dog laws in Indiana? Does Indiana have dog laws? If you live in this state, you might be wondering what the law says about issues like rabies vaccination, dog bites, dog cruelty, and dog chains.
Read on for more information about dog laws in Indiana.
What Dog Vaccines are Required by Law in Indiana?
Any dog over 12 weeks of age in Indiana must receive a rabies vaccine. This vaccine must be administered by a licensed veterinarian. Subsequent vaccines must come as recommended. For example, a one-year vaccine must be performed yearly, but dogs receiving a three-year booster do not need yearly vaccinations.
There are no rabies exemptions in the state of Indiana. That means that ill or injured pets cannot get a medical exemption from the vaccine.
If an unvaccinated dog bites a person, they will be considered as a potential rabies carrier. They will be put in quarantine for 10 days. If there are no rabies symptoms, they may return home post-vaccination. If they show signs of rabies, they will be euthanized for testing.
A person who knowingly or intentionally harbors a dog that is over the age of six (6) months and not immunized against rabies commits harboring a nonimmunized dog, a class C infraction. However, the offense is a class B misdemeanor if the dog causes bodily injury by biting a person.
What Are the Dog Bite Laws in Indiana?
Indiana is what is known as a “one bite” state. This means that, in most cases, a dog’s first documented bite incident will not lead to any consequences. This is done under the assumption that the owner of the dog will now recognize the dog’s potential to be dangerous and properly control them. This does not always apply, though. In cases of severe attacks, even ‘first bite’ dogs can still be held liable.
Additionally, dog owners can be found negligent even in first bite offenses. If a dog was known to exhibit dangerous or aggressive behavior, even if they had never previously bitten someone, they could be considered a known dangerous dog.
There are cases where dogs will not be considered aggressors in attacks, even if previously proven to be dangerous. Dog owners are not responsible for attacks in which the dog was provoked or protecting the owner. This could include yelling at, hitting, or throwing objects at the dog. Additionally, if you were trespassing on private property and then were attacked by an otherwise contained dog, the dog’s owner would not be liable.
Additionally, in some cases, there may be a “common sense” prohibition on finding a dog owner liable. For example, most people know to leave an eating dog or a mother with puppies alone. Bothering an animal when you could predict aggressive behavior will not always result in liability for the owner.
A dangerous dog, particularly a repeat offender, may be euthanized if this is determined to be in the best interest of the safety of the community. After one documented bite, a dog is considered vicious in the state of Indiana. This means that subsequent bites may lead to euthanasia. Additionally, a severe enough attack could lead the court to determine euthanasia is the best course of action even for a first offender.
What Are Indiana Dog Abandonment Laws?
What is considered animal abandonment in Indiana?
According to IN Code § 35-46-3-7 (2017), animal abandonment is illegal. This means that simply letting an unwanted animal go loose instead of finding new caretakers is illegal. Animal abandonment is always dangerous to animals and people that may encounter them. It’s always better to surrender a pet to a shelter or rescue if you cannot keep them.
What is the punishment for animal abandonment in Indiana?
IN Code § 35-46-3-7 (2017) states that “A person who: (1) has a vertebrate animal in the person’s custody; and (2) recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally abandons or neglects the animal; commits cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor.” The crime of animal abandonment becomes a Class Six felony charge if the person responsible had a previous conviction for animal abuse. (Ind. Code §§ 35-46-3-0.5, 35-46-3-7 (2022).)
Who pays for an abandoned dog’s vet care in Indiana?
Anyone charged with animal abandonment may be subject to paying for their previously owned animal’s vet care, boarding, and any additional expenses incurred during their trial. This must be court-ordered, so in some cases, the owner may not be held financially responsible.
What Are Indiana Dog Cruelty Laws?
What is considered dog cruelty in Indiana?
Indiana has a wide range of defined actions that are viewed as animal cruelty. This includes neglect, abandonment, torture, and many other categories. According to Indiana Code 35-46-3-0.5, ” “Abuse” means to knowingly or intentionally beat, torment, injure, or otherwise harm an animal.” Anything within these definitions could constitute as animal abuse.
What is the punishment for dog cruelty in Indiana?
In Indiana, animal cruelty is most often a Class A misdemeanor. This is in cases where someone is charged for a first offense for a single count of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty can have serious consequences. Even first offenders can face jail time and large fines. Consequently, repeat offenders face harsher sentencing. However, in some cases animal cruelty can be a felony in Indiana. This is most often in the cases of repeat offenders. However, this can also apply to cases of aggravated animal cruelty, which is typically abuse that results in mutilation or death of the animal. Animal cruelty to 4-10 animals is a felony charge. Additionally, maiming, torturing, or killing an animal is a felony charge. Additionally, convicted animal abusers may lose custody of their pets or permanently be restricted from owning future animals.
What is the punishment for dogfighting in Indiana?
As in the other 49 states, dogfighting is a felony in Indiana. This doesn’t apply only to those directly fighting their animals. Charges can also occur for those betting on or attending dogfights in Indiana. It’s also illegal to train dogs for the intent of fighting, even if you aren’t directly participating in dogfights.
What Are Indiana Dog Chain Laws?
Tethering or chaining a dog is technically legal in Indiana. However, Indiana does restrict tethering and have protocols in place for proper tethering. Before tethering your dog, be sure you’re in accordance with Indiana’s tethering orders. Keep in mind that some individual counties may have specific ordinances, so research your specific area. I.C.§ 35-46-3-.05 notes that “Neglect” means restraining an animal for more than a brief period in a manner that endangers the animal’s life or health by the use of a rope, chain, or tether that:
- is too heavy
- causes the animal to choke
- is less than 3x the length of the animal
- seriously endangers the animal’s life or health
These are pretty reasonable restrictions. Essentially, don’t endanger your dog or make them uncomfortable while tethering.
How Does Indiana Dog Law Rank Against Other States?
Good news for all Indiana residents — the Animal Legal Defense Fund ranks Indiana at number 12 out of all 50 US States for animal protection laws! This makes Indiana a “top-tier” state by their standards. There’s many good things to praise about Indiana’s animal laws. For example, care requirements are well defined, leaving little wiggle room for neglect. Additionally, Indiana makes harsher animal abuse cases correlate to felony charges. Overall, Indiana’s animal protection laws leave lots of tails wagging, even if there still is room for improvement.
