St. Joseph County, Indiana

§ 90.02. – General animal care requirements.

Every owner and/or agent within the county shall see that each of his or her animal or animals:

(M) Is properly restrained by which;

(1) No animal shall be hitched, tied or fastened by any rope, chain or cord that is directly attached to the animal’s neck. If animals must be tied, hitched or fastened:

(2) The length of the rope, chain, or cord must be no less than three times the length of the animal and of an appropriate length for the animal to move freely without risk of injury;

(3) The weight of the rope, chain or cord is light enough to permit the animal to move freely without risk of injury;

(4) The collar and rope, chain, or cord cannot cause the animal to choke;

(5) A properly fitted collar or harness made of leather or nylon, not of the choker type is worn by the animal. This is not to prohibit the proper use of choker collars in the training of animals;

(6) The tying device shall be attached to the animal’s leather or nylon collar or harness and must have a swivel device on both the anchor and collar end to prevent tangling;

(7) The location of the anchor and the length of the rope, chain, or cord, cannot cause the animal to become tangled, choke, or become injured; and

(8) The animal must have access to water and shelter at all times.

(9) No person shall chain their dog using an agitation collar; a collar exceeding 1½ inches wide for any dog under 60 pounds. Dogs over 60 pounds shall not be tethered using a collar exceeding two inches in width.

(10) A person shall not tether an animal in a manner that permits the animal to leave the person’s property.

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(W) Tethering. It shall be unlawful:

(1) For any dog to be tethered between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.;

(2) To tether any unsterilized dog for any period of time;

(3) To tether or confine a dog at an unattended structure or premises for any purpose when it is not monitored by an owner or guardian who is present at the property for the duration of such tethering or confinement;

(4) To tether a dog under six months of age;

(5) For more than three dogs to be tethered simultaneously at the same residence;

(6) To have contact between tethered dogs;

(7) For tethered dogs to be within three feet of another person’s property, public thoroughfare, and/or right-of-way;

(8) To tether a dog without access to adequate shelter at all times;

(9) Is not tethered on a chain rope or like device longer than three hours at a time and no more than three times within any 24-hour period; and

(10) Multiple tangling during tethering. If one or more dogs at a residence have required a response from the animal control agency to untangle tethers more than two times in one year, it shall be a violation of this section.