For the purpose of this chapter, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
“CRUELTY.” Any or all of the following kinds of treatment accorded to any living animal found within the corporate limits of the City of Beech Grove:
(1) Any poisoning, trapping or killing of an animal shall be unlawful, provided that this section shall not be construed to prevent any person from using reasonable methods of trapping, killing or poisoning rats or other vermin or any other wild animal found to be injuring or destroying the owner’s or resident’s property or from utilizing live traps;
(2) To overdrive, overwork or work any animal when it is unfit for labor or sport;
(3) To abuse or allow to be abused any animal by beating it unreasonably, unnecessarily or to commit other inhumane acts of willful and knowing abuse on the body of an animal by burning, castrating, maiming, shooting, mutilating or otherwise disfiguring the animal;
(4) To deprive or neglect to perform any act necessary to the well-being and sustenance of the animal, failure of which causes or permits unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal. The necessary acts are minimally construed to mean that each owner or custodian of any animal shall have a duty of care to provide basic and adequate amounts of food, water, shelter and protection from weather and to avoid overcrowding of animals in confined spaces; and/or
(5) To abandon any animal within the corporate limits of the city.
(6) No person shall crop a dog’s ears except when a licensed veterinarian issues a signed certificate that the operation is necessary for the dog’s health or comfort and in no event shall any person except a licensed veterinarian perform such an operation.
(Ord. 3, 2014, passed 8-4-14) Penalty, see § 90.99