(A) It shall be unlawful for any owner or harborer of any animal, with the exception of community cats, to allow such animal to run at large, whether wearing a collar and tag or not, within the incorporated or unincorporated areas of Dearborn County. If the animal has a collar and tag, the animal control officer or the law enforcement officer shall take reasonable measures to return the animal to its owner. Any animal found running at large that is not wearing a collar and tag shall be immediately impounded by an animal control officer or a law enforcement officer. Animal control officers and law enforcement officers may pursue animals onto private property to effect capture of such animal.
(B) It shall be the duty of every owner or harborer of any animal to exercise reasonable care and take all necessary steps and precautions to protect other people, property, and animals from injuries or damage which might result from the animal's behavior. If the owner or harborer of any animal is a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor shall be jointly responsible for the minor's violation of this chapter.
(C) It shall be the duty of every owner or harborer of any dog to ensure that the dog is kept under restraint and that reasonable care and precautions are taken to prevent the dog from leaving the real property limits of its owner or harborer and ensure that it is:
(1) Securely and humanely enclosed within a house, building, fence, pen or other enclosure out of which it cannot climb, dig, jump, or otherwise escape on its own volition;
(2) Securely and humanely restrained by chain, cable or trolley, or other tether of sufficient strength to prevent escape; and/or
(3) On a leash and under the control of a competent person; or off a leash and obedient to that person's command and that person is present with the dog any time it is not restrained as provided for in division (C)(1) or (C)(2) of this section while on the owner's property.
(D) The owner or harborer of any guard dog or watch dog must confine such dog within a perimeter fence and meet the following requirements:
(1) The fence shall be sufficient to prevent the dog's escape, with all points of ingress and egress securely locked at all times; and
(2) A beware of dog sign shall be conspicuously displayed on each exterior side of the enclosure for each 50 feet enclosure, with a minimum of two, as well as a sign on each ingress and egress point to the enclosure. Signs shall be a minimum of 16 inches by 16 inches.
(E) The chaining of dogs is discouraged, but if it is done, the following is required:
(1) The dog must be able to reach fresh food and water 24 hours a day;
(2) The chain must be at least 12 feet in length;
(3) The chain must not be of a weight heavy enough to cause physical damage to the dog's neck or body;
(4) The dog shall not be tethered by use of a pinch, pronged, or choke collar, or on any collar too small for the size and age of the animal, or by any rope, chair or cord directly attached to the animal’s neck;
(5) The chain must be attached in a manner so that it cannot wrap around vertical items such as a barrel, pole or tree. It must be able to move freely in all directions;
(6) The dog must have shelter from the weather, yet free from becoming entangled with the chain. The dog must have access to the shelter 24 hours a day;
(7) The shelter or doghouse must be kept clean and sanitary and in good repair so the dog does not injure itself on nails, wood pieces, metal pieces, etc. A shelter from weather must be provided during all seasons of the year; and
(8) Any area that the dog has access to must be kept clean and sanitary so that the dog does not injure itself on nails, wood pieces, metal pieces, etc. The area must also be free of animal feces.
(F) Every animal in heat shall be confined in a house, building, or secure enclosure with impenetrable walls in such a manner that such female cannot come into contact with a male of the same species except for planned breeding.
(BC Ord. 2014-006, passed 6-3-14; Am. BC Ord. 2017-014, passed 11-7-17; Am. BC Ord. 2018-003, passed 2-20-18)