a. All dogs shall be kept under restraint.
b. All cats shall be kept under restraint.
c. No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance.
d. Every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come into contact with another animal except for planned breeding.
e. After an Animal Control Officer has determined an animal vicious, the owner must take proper measures to restrain the animal. The vicious animal shall be confined by the owner within a building or secure enclosure appropriate to the weight, size and strength of the animal and it shall be securely muzzled or caged whenever off the premises of its owner. All vicious animal enclosures are subject to approval by the Animal Control Officer to determine that the animal cannot escape and cause harm to the public.
f. No animals shall be permitted in any municipal parks.
g. Owners that elect to install an electronic fence to contain animals on property, must follow the following criteria, effective immediately to all residents:
1. All electronic fences shall be inside the owner’s property, and a minimum of five (5) feet from sidewalks, adjacent property, or other public walkways.
2. Batteries shall be checked on a regular basis.
3. Wireless electronic fences shall be inside the owner’s property, and a minimum of five (5) feet from sidewalks, adjacent property, and public walkways.
4. No animal that is deemed vicious shall be contained by this type of fencing.
5. Owners are responsible for adequate training and restraint for this type of fencing.
h. Schererville will implement an On-Leash Dog Program for all walking trails, which program will be undertaken as follows:
1. Goal: the goal of this program will be to increase recreational opportunities in the park system by enabling residents to walk or exercise their dogs on-leash on all walking trails, including those contained within Schererville Parks.
2. Program:
(i) Owners of on-leash dogs will be permitted to walk their licensed dogs on the walking trails of the Town on-leash during regular park hours.
(ii) The Schererville Parks and Recreation Board may terminate or suspend the program at any time in the event it is determined that termination is in the best interest of the Town and its residents.
3. Rules and regulations:
(i) Dogs must be kept on a leash no greater than six (6') feet in length, and under control at all times. Dog owners may walk their dogs on-leash on the walking trails. Dogs are prohibited from being in any area of the parks outside of the trails, including, but not limited to, playgrounds, restrooms, picnic shelters, ball fields and tennis courts.
(ii) Any person whose dog is on-leash utilizing walking trails shall be responsible for the conduct of the dog and for removing feces deposited by such animal from the park area.
(iii) All dogs must be accompanied by their owner and not cause a public nuisance, safety hazard, harass wildlife or damage landscaping.
(iv) Dog owners/handlers, at the first sign of aggression or unruliness, must immediately remove their dogs from the designated areas.
(v) Dogs shall be prohibited from the Schererville Parks and/or walking trails during special events, as designated by the Schererville Town Parks and Recreation Department.
(vi) Nothing herein shall prevent or limit the duly authorized use of service dogs.
(Ord. No. 1549, § 6, 1-23-02; Ord. No. 1626, § 3, 10-13-04; Ord. No. 1799, § 1, 12-14-11)