§ 91.99 PENALTY.
   (A)   Any person violating referenced sections of this chapter shall be considered to be committing a city ordinance violation and may be fined as follows:
Chapter Section
Violation Description
Civil Penalty
Duties and responsibilities
Up to $500 per occurrence
Permanent identification
Up to $500 per occurrence
Restraint of animals
Up to $500 per occurrence
Public nuisance animal
Up to $1500 per occurrence and the animal may be impounded
Feral cats
Up to $500 per occurrence
Dangerous animals
Up to $500 per occurrence
Commercial animal establishments
Up to $500 per occurrence
Disposition of deal animals
Up to $500 per occurrence
Cruelty; neglect; abandonment
Up to $2500 per occurrence and the animal may be impounded
Vaccinations
Up to $500 per occurrence
Vehicular collision
Up to $500 per occurrence
Interfering with Animal Control/ Humane Officer
Up to $2500 per occurrence
Animal waste
Up to $500 per occurrence
Animals in vehicles
Up to $500 per occurrence
Animal sacrifice
Up to $2500 per occurrence
Sterilization of dogs and cats
Up to $2500 per occurrence
Service animals in public buildings
Up to $500 per occurrence
 
   (B)   Any other violation that falls within this chapter is punishable by a minimum fine of up to $500.
   (C)   Any violation of this chapter is subject to the Ordinance Violations Bureau. A person in violation may admit their violation and pay their civil penalty to the city's Ordinance Violations Bureau or may appear and deny their violation and request a trial. If the person in violation denies the violation, fails to satisfy the penalty assessed after having entered an admission of violation or fails to deny or admit the violation, the case will be filed in the City Court.
   (D)   Violations of any offense listed in this chapter, not covered under penalty as a city ordinance violation, are punishable under Indiana Code, either as an infraction or misdemeanor.
   (E)   In the event that an animal is impounded by animal control pursuant to this chapter, and in addition to any other penalty set out in division (A) of this section or court costs, the owner may be responsible to reimburse the city for the cost associated with providing shelter for each impounded animal at an animal control facility or the Hamilton County Humane Society. The money shall be deposited in the General Fund of the city subject to appropriation to Animal Control Fund.
   (F)   The sections of this chapter are intended to encourage the humane treatment of animals. Therefore, any court having jurisdiction of violations of this chapter is encouraged to use the court's deferral procedures to assist the public to conform the treatment of animals within the city to the terms of this chapter.
   (G)   A violation of a section of this chapter shall be cited by adding the appropriate section or subsection to the citation.
(Ord. 092120C, passed 10-19-20)