Dearborn County, Indiana

§ 90.21 STERILIZATION OF DOGS AND CATS.

(A)   In an effort to decrease the overpopulation of homeless, unwanted dogs and cats, it is strongly advised that each dog and cat over the age of six months which is kept in Dearborn County be sterilized and rendered incapable of reproducing by a licensed veterinarian, unless a veterinarian has certified in writing that it would not be in the animal’s best medical interest, but in no case later than when that excepted animal attains the age of nine months.

(B)   Any animal adopted from any source, with the exception of breeding stock, must be spayed or neutered by a veterinarian. If the animal is an adult, such operation shall be performed within one month of adoption. All adopted juvenile dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered by the age of six months unless otherwise advised by a veterinarian.

§ 90.34 LICENSE REQUIRED.

(A)   Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of a dog(s) over four months of age within Dearborn County must obtain a license for each dog in their possession. Further, each owner of a dog within Dearborn County shall ensure that such dog, at all times, wears a collar made of a durable material to which is attached, at all times, the dog license tag in addition to the required rabies vaccination tag. There is no licensing requirement for cats; however, licensing is recommended for cats because it increases the number of lost cats returned and facilitates enforcement of animal control and cruelty laws and promotes spaying and neutering.

§ 90.36 LICENSE FEES.

(A)   A license shall be issued after presenting a current rabies vaccination certificate and payment of the application fee in the amount as set forth below:

      (1)   $6 for each neutered male dog or spayed female dog;

      (2)   $11 for each un-neutered male dog or unspayed female dog;

§ 90.66 IMPOUNDMENT AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION.

(A)   Animals shall be taken by the animal control officer and impounded in the P.A.W.S. animal shelter or other appropriate facility and there confined in a humane manner. In lieu of impoundment, the animal control officer may issue to the known owner(s) of such animal a Notice of Ordinance Violation.

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(D)   An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay any fines, expenses and/or fees due and owing to Dearborn County Animal Control, P.A.W.S., and/or any facility sheltering and caring for the impounded animal. Impound fees and fines may be waived, in lieu of a return to the owner, for services that include sterilization, rabies, booster vaccinations, and microchip.