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Indiana Animal / Dog Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Criminal Law for Indiana on
Q: If i shot a dog for eating chickens,someone said the bullet hit his house am i guilty criminal wrecklessness with DW

... im being investigated for level 5 felony. Are the laws simular to self defense laws? Considering my children could have been attacked by said dog. He killed 16 chickens that day have video evidence of dog eating my kids pets

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on Aug 6, 2023

It is always important to remember that sites like this are best used for more general legal questions. You don't want to share too many facts that could be used as admissions if charges are later filed.

Your situation involves more than one analysis.

One is whether you were...
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1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: If I'm walking my dog on the street and someone's dog not on a leash charges us how am I able to defend myself?

I live in a nice neighborhood however, several times when walking my dog we've come across countless unrestrained dogs in my neighbors yards (not strays) they run up to us barking and almost if biting at us. Is it illegal for me to defend myself with some form of pepper spray/gun?

Charles Candiano
Charles Candiano
answered on Jul 17, 2023

You don't provide enough details for a definitive answer. On your facts, the other dogs bark at you and your dog. As long as the other dogs stay on their property, there is nothing that you can do. Some dogs are extremely territorial. One of my dogs will bark at the "trespasser"... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Wrongful Death for Indiana on
Q: My neighbors shot my 1 year old dog for injuring their goats. They did not kill any goats.

They called us to come get him after they had their goats pinned up. We live 2 houses down and in the 2 min it took my husband to go down and pick him up they decided to shoot my dog. He was not actively harming their goats. He was standing there a couple feet away in the fence and they shot him... View More

Charles Candiano
Charles Candiano
answered on Jul 17, 2023

If your dog was out of your control and injured your neighbor's goats, you are responsible for the vet bill to treat the goats. If your neighbor decided to shoot your dog AFTER his animals were safe, he may be criminally liable but only the County Prosecutor has the authority to bring... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: Neighbor threatened to call animal control and the police if he saw my dog tide up outside.

I have a 3 month old pit bull. I sometimes tide him up in the yard because my yard is not fenced. Yesterday I had tide the dog up because he wanted to be out, but I had things to do in the kitchen. Whenever he is tide up I always leave the back door open with the screen door closed to be able to... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 4, 2023

Hire a good lawyer to try to fight the charges. But you will likely lose. Leaving a dog tied up outside probably constitutes animal cruelty.

If you want to avoid criminal charges, build a fence or at least a dog run.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: I was visiting my parents with our cat. Their neighbor baited and trapped it and had it spayed what recourse do I have?

My dad ask him if he did it and he admitted it,even told him where he took it to have it done. He sign papers at the vet stating he owned the cat and was responsible for it. We are from Kentucky and were visiting my parents in elwood in.

Charles Candiano
Charles Candiano
answered on Jun 23, 2022

Presumably, the trap was set on the neighbor's property so the cat could not have been trapped unless it was out of your control, on the neighbor's property. If your father's neighbor does this routinely, to decrease the surplus population of feral cats, it is commendable that he... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Car Accidents for Indiana on
Q: If my dog broke off his chain and my neighbor ran him over can I sue him? He never stopped! Never braked!

Never checked his rearview mirror! I'm in Indiana. And if he would of stopped and i would have know sooner i may have been able to save him. 20 mins after he was hit i found him suffering in pain. This guy and his wife speed on all the streets in my little town constantly. Before this event we... View More

Charles Candiano
Charles Candiano
answered on Jun 12, 2022

In Indiana, it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident with a domesticated animal before you call the pet's owner or animal control. As a dog lover, I feel your pain. That said, if the driver had lost control while taking evasive action, you would be responsible for all property damage... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law, Personal Injury and Civil Litigation for Indiana on
Q: Does the dog owner still have to pay the full vet bill from a dog attack if you made a Fundraiser for emergency help?

My dog was attacked we emptied our bank account to pay the bill because the owner of the other dogs couldn't pay upfront. I got a fundraiser to help us in our time of need. Now she feels she doesn't have to cover the full amount. Is she still entitled to pay the full amount?

Charles Candiano
Charles Candiano
answered on Mar 5, 2022

To be "entitled" is to have the right. She has the "right" to pay but NOT the obligation. The fundraiser collected money for the dog's vet bills. That money MUST be used to pay the vet. She is obligated to pay ONLY the shortfall between what you raised and what you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: I tried to purchase a puppy I found on the internet from a seller in pensacola florida. I paid for the puppy and was

sent a transfer of ownership certificate but never got my puppy

Kristina M. Bergsten
PREMIUM
Kristina M. Bergsten
answered on Dec 3, 2020

A lot of puppies for sale online are scams. Your situation is, unfortunately, very common. You will have to sue this person - if you can find him/her - in Florida to get your money back. You might be able to call the local sheriff's office to report the crime, but that would mean you would... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: I’m 19 and live with my mom and her husband. She got me a dog for my 19th birthday. I have had the dog for 6 months and

She is trying to get rid of it. Can she do that if she bought it for me in the first place?

Kristina M. Bergsten
PREMIUM
Kristina M. Bergsten
answered on Nov 30, 2020

No, you are legally the owner. If this is a concern of yours, you should make sure your dog is licensed and microchipped in your name in case she tries to remove the dog without your knowledge and permission.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: Do i have a case? 2 stray dogs killed 8 of my backyard chickens and injured 3.

I recovered 4 bodies, the other 4 are missing, presumed dead. I kept the dogs safe until owners could claim them. I have several photos of my flock pre attack, post attack, and of the dogs as well as piles of feathers in our yard. The owner offered no compensation, even when I asked. We... View More

Tyler Young
Tyler Young
answered on Sep 14, 2020

Most likely you have a claim for the value of the animals. Indiana likely has a small claims court option for you. I recommend looking into small claims courts in your area. This will be an inexpensive and relatively fast option for you to find some recovery.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Real Estate Law and Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: Can I do anything about my outside cat I’ve been taking care of when the neighbor stole it

Had it for months no paperwork or anything my kids fed it and it stayed here. We even provided food and shelter. Looked at the neighbors house and seen it in the window she stole it

Andrew L. Bennett
PREMIUM
Andrew L. Bennett
answered on Aug 10, 2020

Have you talked to the neighbor about having adopted it yourself? If she knew it was staying at your house she may give it back.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: Can I shoot my dog on my own land if it has attacked me several times in the past month? Causing stitches and is 160

Pounds and cannot he close enough to be uthinizex

Kristina M. Bergsten
PREMIUM
Kristina M. Bergsten
answered on Aug 5, 2020

Call animal control or a local shelter to have them remove the dog. They can handle that sort of call and treat your dog humanely.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Personal Injury for Indiana on
Q: If my 2 year old dog bit someone that grabbed her by the collar to stop her running off, am I liable?

My daughter opened the front door when her friend came over and our dog almost ran out the house. The adult who was dropping off my daughter's friend grabbed the dog's collar to stop her getting out and apparently the dog bit her. The woman left and did not say she was bitten until almost... View More

Tyler Young
Tyler Young
answered on Jul 25, 2020

I can only answer your question with certainty based on Utah law, but in most states yes, you are strictly liable for the actions of your dog. Strict liability means that regardless of fault by you, or any knowledge that your pet might bite someone, by simply owning a pet you are responsible for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Animal / Dog Law, Environmental and Land Use & Zoning for Indiana on
Q: I'm a homeowner in Indiana. I have a fence on my property located about 6 inches back from my property line.

I never had my property surveyed, but there is a survey marker across the alley and all the lots on this part of town are all the same size, so that should be enough to clearly define my property line.

My neighbor has built two parallel fences that connect up to my fence crossing my... View More

Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jun 12, 2020

You can sue for Trespass Damages. But you have a Boundary Line Dispute. You will probably need to get a Survey done, where the Surveyor knows he will be testifying in Court. If you do nothing, then you will acquiesce to the new Boundary. Both property owners now have clouds on their Titles.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: Should I call someone if I suspect animal abuse?

I live in a shared homes area, and I've been told by the people that share a home with this one person have heard him yell and throw his dog at the wall, which is then followed by yelps from the dog. I've also seen the dog being carried in ways that could hurt him. The owner also lets the... View More

Paul Stanko
Paul Stanko
answered on Apr 19, 2020

Contact the police immediately. Abuse or neglect of a vertebrate animal is a crime! Also contact your local humane society or animal shelter.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: My ex husband gave his sister my sons dog and she wont return him. I have a bill of sale for the dog. What can i do
Richard Winblad
PREMIUM
Richard Winblad
answered on Oct 29, 2019

Consider a small claims replevin action in your state. Replevin is an action to recover property like a dog.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: Can I shoot someone's dog while it is attacking my dog?
Andrew L. Bennett
PREMIUM
Andrew L. Bennett
answered on Sep 23, 2019

You do have the right to protect your dog, as long as your dog was not the aggressor.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Landlord - Tenant for Indiana on
Q: Can a landlord still charge me a pet deposit for my pet who is an emotional support dog?
Alexander Florian Steciuch
Alexander Florian Steciuch
answered on May 16, 2019

An emotional support animal is not the same as a service animal. Indiana law recognizes that service animals are not pets and therefore are not subject to 'no pets rules' or 'pet deposits.' However, as previously stated, an emotional support animal is NOT a service animal and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: My neighbors Pitbull attacked & killed one of my dogs & did $3000 in damage to the other.

The dogs still run loose in my yard and they have refused to cover my vet bills. Can I take his landlord to small claims court as well, since he allows his tenant to have dangerous dogs?

Alexander Florian Steciuch
Alexander Florian Steciuch
answered on Apr 30, 2019

Yes, you can include the landlord. Whether or not you will be able to recover against the landlord is another matter. You will have to show that the landlord was somehow negligent in renting to these tenants that allowed their dangerous animals to roam around or intentionally allowed these dogs to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana on
Q: Rescued a dog w/out tags or a microchip. What documents can I request from someone claiming it's theirs to prove owners

Dog was found in an alley last night. Dog was posted to various social media sites and someone is claiming it is theirs. We have other information that makes their claim seem illegitimate. I want to make sure this dog goes to either the rightful owner or stays in my possession until I am legally... View More

Alexander Florian Steciuch
Alexander Florian Steciuch
answered on Mar 19, 2019

It's not unreasonable to request records of ownership, like vet records or vaccination schedules, from an owner when you have found a lost dog. Just be aware that if that is indeed the true owner and you're withholding their property, the dog, you could have negative legal consequences if... View More

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