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 LaPorte
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 6. ANIMALS

  § 6-10. Dangerous animals.  

Latest version.

  • (a)

    It shall be unlawful for any person to own or harbor a dangerous animal without keeping such animal securely confined on the owner's or keeper's premises and under such restraint that person's lawfully on the premises, or elsewhere, may not be attacked or bitten by such animal. The premises where such an animal is kept shall be adequately posted with warning signs.

    (b)

    It shall be unlawful for any person, excepting a duly constituted peace officer, or animal control officer engaged in the discharge of a duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States of America, or this chapter to enter such premises or fenced area so posted, without the permission of or in the presence of the owner/keeper of such known dangerous dog.

    (c)

    Any person harboring such animal which shall violate this section with the result that bodily injury is inflicted upon a human being at the time and place where said injured person had a right to be, shall be guilty of code violation and upon conviction shall be fined a sum not exceeding $1,000.00. Further, such owner shall be responsible for all costs of temperament testing and post the property where said animal is housed with a warming sign or signs as provided by the city's police department at the owner's expense. Said signs shall be posted conspicuously as directed by the police department so as to notify the public as to the danger of the animal.

    Any person harboring one or more of such animals which shall violate this section more than once in any five-year period with the result that bodily injury is inflicted upon a human being at the time and place where said injured person had a right to be, shall be guilty of an additional code violation, and upon such conviction shall be fined a sum not to exceed $2,500.00.

    Further, said person, having violated this section more than once in any five-year period, shall not own, house, control or supervise any animal within the City of LaPorte without the written approval of the chief of police. The chief of police shall only issue said approval if upon his or her investigation it is determined that the proposed ownership, control or supervision of such animal would not create a danger to any human being or other animal. Denial of said approval by the chief of police shall be reviewable by the board of works for abuse of discretion.

    Any animal that more than once inflicts bodily injury upon any human being at a time and place where said injured person had a right to be, or shall inflict said bodily injury once and has been trained to fight, attack or kill, or has killed a human being, or has once inflicted the bodily injury described herein, and a law enforcement officer has determined that the animal is an immediate and continuing danger to human life, shall, upon ten days written notice to the owner, be euthanized. The decision to euthanize may be appealed by the owner by filing within said ten-day period a written notice of appeal filed at the LaPorte City Police Department and the LaPorte Board of Works. Said appeal shall be heard by the administrative law judge.

(Ord. No. 29-2003, § 10, 9-15-03; Ord. No. 33-2010, § III, 12-20-2010)