Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. I, ch. 288, art. I — AGENCY ESTABLISHED | Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County of Indianapolis-Marion County (Supp. No. 47, Update 2: codified through Ordinance No. 42, 2026, passed June 1, 2026) — City of Indianapolis

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 288-101 Agency established.

Sec. 288-101. - Agency established. There hereby is established an animal care services agency for the consolidated city as provided by IC 36-3-4-23. (G.O. 33, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 288-102 Powers and duties.

Sec. 288-102. - Powers and duties. It shall be the responsibility of the animal care services agency to operate the city's animal shelter and to enforce provisions of statutes and ordinances relating to the care, treatment, and control of animals, or as may be assigned by the mayor including, but not limited to, enforcement of chapter 531, regarding animals. (G.O. 33, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 288-103 Shelter operations; purpose and responsibilities.

Sec. 288-103. - Shelter operations; purpose and responsibilities. The animal care services agency shall operate or contract for the operation of a shelter facility that shall be known as the "animal care services shelter." (a) The animal care services shelter is to accept every Marion County resident's animal brought to it. The animal care services shelter may require an appointment to surrender an animal. If the shelter is at or above ninety (90) percent capacity, the shelter may implement a stronger managed-intake approach to reduce the frequency and amount of animal intake. (b) The animal care services shelter shall determine the county of residence for the owner, finder, or keeper of each animal brought to it. All non-Marion County residents shall be assessed a surrender fee established by the board of animal care services not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) per animal drop-off. The shelter may refuse to accept non-Marion County residents' animals if the fee is not paid or if the shelter is at or above eighty (80) percent capacity. (c) The agency shall maintain a clean, comfortable, safe, and healthy environment for the animals at the shelter as is reasonably possible. (d) The agency shall adopt written standards and operating procedures to ensure that the shelter is as clean, comfortable, safe, and as healthy an environment as is reasonably possible. (e) The shelter shall be open for redemption and adoption of animals a minimum of five (5) partial or whole days a week, including one (1) full weekend day. (f) The shelter shall be open to the public until at least 7:00 p.m. a minimum of one (1) weeknight each week. (g) The shelter shall make arrangements to receive or assist sick or injured animals twenty-four (24) hours a day. (h) The shelter shall coordinate with enforcement officers to make arrangements for emergency pickup service for animals. (i) The shelter shall contract or arrange for licensed regular veterinary care and for the appropriate veterinary medical supplies for the animals at the facility. This veterinary care shall include, but not be limited to, treatment of sick and injured animals, care for newborn or young animals, administration of preventative vaccines and deworming. (j) The shelter shall provide adequate and nutritional food appropriate to the species and circumstances of the individual animal. Animals will be fed in appropriate containers. (k) The shelter shall ensure that the kennels and/or cages in which the animals stay at the shelter are cleaned and disinfected regularly and in no case less than once every twenty-four (24) hours. Animals shall be humanely moved from their individual kennel to a clean area while the cleaning and disinfecting are being performed. (l) Incoming animals shall be received in an area separate from the rest of the shelter population and shall be immediately examined for injury. They shall remain separated from the rest of the shelter population until they have been evaluated for health and temperament. Incoming animals whose vaccination history is unknown shall be vaccinated before being moved into the shelter population. (m) Cages and kennels shall be in good condition, free of sharp or broken edges, covered drains, supplied with clean, fresh bedding as needed. Every animal shall be kept in an appropriate enclosure so as to remain clean, dry, comfortable and free of disease. (n) Animals in the shelter shall be separated as follows: (1) Incoming animals from the shelter population for triage and observation period; (2) Sick and injured animals from healthy animals so as to receive appropriate care, including off-site facility care, if needed; (3) Puppies, kittens and nursing mothers with offspring from all other adult animals; (4) Further divisions as needed to accommodate temperament and behavior including, but not limited to, females in heat and overly aggressive animals; and (5) Dogs from cats. (G.O. 33, 2024, § 1)