South Bend, Indiana

Sec. 5-2. – Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:

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(n) Breeder means any person who intentionally or accidentally causes the breeding of an animal or makes an animal cat or dog available for breeding purposes, or any person who offers for sale, sells, trades, receives other compensation or gives away any litter of dogs or cats; or any person who has unaltered animals who habitually (two (2) or more litters) have accidental litters.

Sec. 5-50. – Pet registration required; exception; tags; microchip implant.

(a) Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat over the age of six (6) months must obtain a pet registration for such animal; provided, however, that no pet registration shall be required of any animal welfare organization, municipal animal control facility or governmental agency, or guide dog.

Sec. 5-52. – Fees.

(a) Commencing on the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter derives, and for each subsequent year thereafter, each permit issued by the City under this chapter shall be valid from January 1 and end December 31. In addition to all other fees required by law to be paid, the following fees shall be paid to the City:

(1) Annual Residential Pet Registration for All Altered Animal Non-Commercial Site Permits.

Pet owners who have all of their dogs/cats altered shall be entitled to register their altered animals for a Residential pet Registration for All Altered Animal Non-Commercial Site Permit. Such permit may be issued upon the owner signing an affidavit, under pains and penalties for perjury, which verifies the altered animal status of each animal, and which requires the owner to list the rabies vaccination number assigned to each altered animal which verifies that said rabies vaccination(s) are current for each such altered animal. Providing false information shall result in a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00). The fees for residential pet registration for all altered animal non-commercial site permit shall be as follows:

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(b) Limited Exemptions:

(1) Threat to health of animal. Upon a written statement from a licensed veterinarian setting forth that the neutering of the animal shall constitute a threat to the health of that animal, the payment of the permit fee for unaltered animal shall not be required but the animal shall be classified as an altered animal for purposes of permit registration and fees. Registration at the altered tag price under this section will constitute agreement not to breed the animal. Doing so will result in fines.

(2) Service Animal Exemption. A person who is impaired by:

a. Blindness or any other visual impairment;

b. Deafness or any other aural impairment;

c. A physical disability; or

d. A medical condition or any other condition governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) shall be exempt from the fees listed in this section for their service animal, however registration of such service animal is required.

(3) Senior Citizen Exemption. Any cat or dog owner sixty-two (62) years of age or older who owns an altered animal must register his/her altered animal with the fees for such altered animal being waived in their entirety. However, if the animal of any such person, is not altered the person shall pay the same permit fee and shall be subject to the listed fees and charges in this section.

(c) Non-Altered Residential Permits and Commercial Kennel/Cattery Permits. Any person having one (1) unaltered dog or cat shall be subject to the following fees. All of the following permits must be obtained upon proof that each unaltered animal has a rabies vaccination number assigned to each unaltered animal which verifies that said rabies vaccination(s) are current for each such unaltered animal and will be reissued annually and all tags for animals registered under any permit will be issued with the permit:

(1) Residential Unaltered Animal Permit.

a. 0—1 Unaltered animal fifty dollars ($50.00).

b. 2—3 Unaltered animals three hundred dollars ($300.00).

No more than three (3) unaltered animals shall be permitted in any one (1) property which is zoned residential.

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(f) Major Breeder’s Permit.

Annual Fee: Two hundred dollars ($200.00) plus any applicable kennel/cattery permit fee.

(g) Minor Breeder’s Permit.

(1) Any owner or person having custody of a dog or cat which has been neutered within ten (10) weeks after giving birth to a litter or who turns the adult dog or cat over to the Division of Animal Care and Control within ten (10) weeks from the birth date of the litter, will be required to purchase a Minor Breeder Permit at the rate of ten dollars ($10.00).

(2) Any owner or person having custody of a dog or cat that has delivered a litter, who chooses not to relinquish the animal to the Division of Animal Care and Control and also chooses not to have the animal neutered, will be required to purchase a Minor Breeder Permit at the rate of one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Sec. 5-108. – Redemption.

(d) An animal that has been previously impounded stray or at-large and is now being redeemed for the second or subsequent redemption, will be required to be spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense. Arrangements to perform the procedure must be made within twenty-four (24) hours of reclaim and enforcement action pending spay/neuter completion will be issued at the time of reclaim.

(e) In cases mandating spaying or neutering of a dog, the dog may be transported directly to the veterinarian of the owner’s choice at the city’s discretion for completion of the surgery and pickup of the animal by the owner from the veterinarian after such completion.