West Lafayette, Indiana

Sec. 4-11. – Mandatory microchip implantation and sterilization.

(b) Subject to subsection (d), owners who commit a violation of section 4-4 (Prohibited acts), 4-5 (Inoculation), 4-6 (Restraint), 4-7 (Humane treatment), or 4-8 (Habitual offender), must, in addition to paying fines imposed for those violations, have the subject animal sterilized or agree to do so. This section does not apply to an animal that has already been sterilized.

(c) Subject to subsection (d), if an owner is required to have the owner’s animal sterilized under subsection (b), the owner shall sign an agreement to have the animal sterilized within thirty days. The owner shall provide proof of sterilization to WLPD within forty-five days.

(d) Subject to the limitations in this subsection, an owner who is required to have an animal sterilized under subsection (b) and enter into an agreement under subsection (c) may, in the alternative, decline to enter into an agreement and, instead, pay a fine of two hundred fifty dollars. This alternative fine is not available to the following: Habitual offenders under section 4-8, those who commit animal cruelty under sections 4-7(b) and (c), those who have failed to abide by a prior agreement under subsection (c), and owners of a hazardous animal or those who fail to restrain a hazardous animal under section 4-6(c). Those owners who are not permitted to decline under this subsection shall be deemed to have entered into an agreement under subsection (c) and are subject to the penalties specified under subsection (e) if they fail to have their animal sterilized.

(e) If the owner enters into an agreement under subsection (c) and fails to comply with the agreement, the owner is subject to a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars, the city official is permitted to seize the animal and arrange for sterilization at the owner’s expense, and, if necessary, is entitled to an order of injunctive relief requiring specific performance of the agreement by the owner. The owner shall be subject to reasonable court costs and attorney fees.

(f) If a veterinarian provides a written opinion that implanting a microchip or sterilizing an animal would be detrimental to the health of the animal, the time for performing under an agreement under subsection (c) shall be delayed to such time as is specified by the veterinarian. If no time is specified by the veterinarian, the time for performance shall be delayed for six months.