Information from FIDO Indy’s website summarizing Indianapolis ordinances for outside dog care and conditions.
Indianapolis’s basic animal care and treatment laws can be viewed at Municode.com, Article IV. Care and Treatment; Sec. 531401.
Your dog must have access to:
- Continuous fresh drinking water.
Food that is appropriate for dogs and in adequate amounts to maintain good health
- A clean and sanitary environment with enough space to prevent the dog from standing, sitting, or lying in its own excrement
- Treatment for open lesions on the dog’s skin due to insect bites.
Inside training crates or airline crates should NEVER be used for shelter or containment outside!
SHELTER
Your dog must have access to:
- A shelter constructed of solid wood or other weather-resistant materials consisting of solid walls on all sides.
- A dry floor raised above the ground.
- A roof sloped away from the entrance to protect your dog from weather and extreme cold.
- During the winter months and when the temperature is below 40°F, the shelter must be just large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around.
- The entrance must be covered by a flexible wind proofed material or self-closing door.
- The shelter must contain clean, dry bedding which must consist of an insulating material that does not retain moisture, such as straw, and sufficient depth for your dog to burrow.
- On any day when the temperature is at or above 80°F, your dog’s shelter must be shaded by either trees or a tarp.
PEN OR FENCED ENCLOSURE
Your dog must have adequate space for exercise when confined to a kennel, enclosure, or pen which must be at least 100 square feet (for example 10ft. x 10ft.) Any dog over 80 pounds must be provided with a space of 150 square feet. For each additional dog inside the enclosure, an extra 50 square feet must be provided.
