IMPOUNDMENT AND DISPOSITION OF ANIMALS

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. III, ch. 531, art. VII, div. 2

in effect

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-721 Grounds for impoundment.

Sec. 531-721. - Grounds for impoundment. (a) Any animal found at large in violation of this chapter shall be captured and impounded. (b) Any animal found confined or abandoned on private property in violation of this chapter or section 836-5 of this Code shall be impounded. (c) Any dangerous animal found at large or not confined as required by this chapter may be captured, impounded and its release shall be subject to the provisions of section 531-733. (d) Section 531-731 notwithstanding, any free roaming cat is eligible to be processed through the community cat program immediately without hold. (G.O. 169, 1999, § 5; G.O. 94, 2006, § 5; G.O. 17, 2016, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-722 Notice to owner.

Sec. 531-722. - Notice to owner. (a) Upon the impoundment of an animal, a reasonable attempt shall be made to notify and inform the owner of the animal of the requirements of this article for regaining the custody of the animal. (b) Such attempt shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: (1) In the instance of an impounded dog or cat, contact with the owner identified by the microchip or other permanent means of identification, if any, borne by the dog or cat; (2) In the instance of an impounded dog or cat not bearing a permanent means of identification, contact with the veterinarian facility listed on the animal's vaccination tag; and (3) Cooperation of effort with other governmental and private agencies, such as the Humane Society of Indianapolis or other humane and/or breed rescue organizations recognized by the animal care services agency. (G.O. 169, 1999, § 5; G.O. 41, 2016, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-723 Report of impoundment.

Sec. 531-723. - Report of impoundment. A person who confines an animal found by that person to be at large in the city shall notify the animal care services agency or one of its agents within forty-eight (48) hours thereafter. (G.O. 169, 1999, § 5; G.O. 13, 2016, § 34; G.O. 41, 2016, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-724 Return of captured animal without impoundment.

Sec. 531-724. - Return of captured animal without impoundment. When the owner of a captured animal is known, such animal need not be impounded but may be returned to its owner if, in the opinion of the animal control officer or management of the animal care services agency, the return would not present a detriment to the public health or welfare or otherwise result in a violation of this chapter. A community cat shall be released where captured, unless reasonable options of return have been exhausted. (G.O. 169, 1999, § 5; G.O. 17, 2016, § 1; G.O. 41, 2016, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-725 Return of impounded animal to its owner.

Sec. 531-725. - Return of impounded animal to its owner. (a) An animal impounded, if claimed by its owner, shall be returned to its owner subject to, and upon compliance with, the provisions of division 2 and division 3 of this article. (b) The owner of an impounded animal may obtain the return of such animal upon compliance with any applicable provisions the board or agency may impose, and the payment of the appropriate impoundment and kennel fees, and any other applicable fees and fines. (c) Prior to the return to its owner of an impounded dog or cat which at the time of impoundment did not bear a permanent means of identification as required by section 531-202 of this Code, the enforcement authority shall cause a microchip with a registered identification number to be implanted in the animal. The fee for such service shall be ten dollars ($10.00). (G.O. 169, 1999, § 5; G.O. 97, 2004, § 5; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-726 Impoundment and kennel fees; disposition.

Sec. 531-726. - Impoundment and kennel fees; disposition. (a) Impoundment and kennel fees for animals impounded under this article shall be as follows: (1) For each small animal other than a dog, ten dollars ($10.00), and three dollars ($3.00) for each day of impoundment or fraction thereof; (2) For each dog, twenty dollars ($20.00), and five dollars ($5.00) for each day of impoundment or fraction thereof; and (3) For any large animal other than a dog, thirty dollars ($30.00), and ten dollars ($10.00) for each day of impoundment or fraction thereof. (b) Impoundment and kennel fees shall be collected by and paid to the enforcement authority, which shall remit such funds to the office of finance and management; however, if the enforcement authority in a particular case is a person contracting with the city to render services, the fees may be retained by and as the property of such person as part of all of that person's charges for rendering such services, if the contract so provides. (G.O. 169, 1999, § 5; G.O. 73, 2005, § 40)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-727 Petition for bond to cover costs of impoundment and care; forfeiture of animal.

Sec. 531-727. - Petition for bond to cover costs of impoundment and care; forfeiture of animal. (a) Petition. Whenever an animal is impounded under this article for a violation of section 531-109, 531-204, or 531-305, or a violation of article IV of this chapter, or a violation of [article] V of this chapter, or a violation of section 531-728, or has been impounded on a prior occasion, or the city prosecutor has applied for an order under section 531-733, the city prosecutor may file a petition with the court having jurisdiction over the ordinance enforcement action requesting an order to require the owner to post a cash bond to cover the fees and costs of the animal's care. The petition shall include an itemized estimate of the reasonable expenses the animal care services agency expects to incur for the care of the animal from the time of impoundment to a minimum of thirty (30) days thereafter. Such expenses shall include but are not limited to the impoundment fee and kennel fees provided in section 531-726 of the Code, and the estimated cost of emergency and routine veterinary care. (b) Hearing and order. The court, pursuant to its rules of procedure, shall provide the opportunity for a prompt hearing and prompt decision on the city prosecutor's petition. If the court finds there is a reasonable likelihood that the city will prevail on the merits of the ordinance enforcement action, then the court shall order the owner to post a cash bond as provided in this section to cover the fees and other costs of care of the animal for a specific period of time of not less than thirty (30) days beginning on the date of impoundment. (c) Posting of bond; time requirements. The owner shall post the bond by delivering cash or a certified or cashier's check payable to "City of Indianapolis" to the animal care services agency. The cash or check must be received by the animal care services agency within three (3) days after the date of the court's order, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and city holidays established in section 291-206 of the Code. The animal care services agency shall hold such check or cash in trust until forfeiture of the animal, return of the animal to its owner, or final adjudication of the ordinance enforcement action, whichever first occurs. (d) Renewal bonds. The animal's owner shall renew the bond at the end of the period of time ordered by the court, and every thirty (30) days thereafter, in the same manner as posting the bond provided in subsection (c) of this section. The owner's duty to renew the bond shall continue until forfeiture of the animal, return of the animal to its owner, or final adjudication of the ordinance enforcement action, whichever first occurs. The owner shall pay the renewal bond before the close of business on the last day of each bond period; however, if such last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or city holiday established in section 291-206 of the Code, then the renewal bond shall be paid on the last business day prior to such Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. (e) Forfeiture. If an owner fails to post a bond within three (3) days as provided by subsection (c) of this section, or fails to pay a renewal bond before the close of business on the last day of each bond period as provided by subsection (d) of this section, then the owner shall be presumed to have surrendered all rights and claim of ownership and control of the animal and the city prosecutor may petition the court for an order to dispose of the animal under the provisions of section 531-731 of the Code. (f) Expiration of bond. Upon forfeiture of the animal, return of the animal to its owner, or final adjudication of the ordinance enforcement action, whichever first occurs, the animal care services agency shall be entitled to draw upon the cash or certified or cashier's check to cover the animal's impoundment fee, kennel fees and the cost of any actual veterinary care. After the fees and costs are paid, the city shall promptly remit any remaining bond money to the owner; however, if the bond money is not sufficient to cover such fees and costs, the owner shall be liable to the city for the difference. (G.O. 97, 2004, § 6; G.O. 94, 2006, § 5; G.O. 41, 2016, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 531-728 Additional restrictions on dangerous or nuisance owners or keepers of animals.

Sec. 531-728. - Additional restrictions on dangerous or nuisance owners or keepers of animals. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person who has been found in violation of sections 531-102 (at large), 531-103 (animals in heat), 531-109 (animal attacks), 531-204 (nuisance), 531-206 (unlawful use), 531-401 (care and treatment), 531-402 (abandonment), 531-404 (animal fights), 531-414 (Marion County Unaltered Animal Registry) or article V of this chapter, to own or keep more than two (2) dogs in the city or to own or keep any dog: (1) That has not been spayed or neutered by a veterinarian; and (2) That has not been implanted with a microchip with a registered identification number. (b) A person who has been found in violation of sections 531-102(c) (at large), 531-109 (animal attacks), 531-206 (unlawful use), 531-404 (animal fights) or article V of this chapter commits a violation of the code if any dog owned or kept by that person is outside a structural enclosure sufficient to confine the dog without means of escape, unless the dog is on a leash and under the control of a competent adult. (G.O. 94, 2006, § 5; Ord. No. 86, 2008, § 7; Ord. No. 26, 2024, § 4; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH531AN_ARTVIIENAU_DIV2IMDIANFetched: 10/27/2026