Ordinance page 2

Page 2 - Questions about the Animal Care Ordinance

Tethering Laws:

Nighttime: Tethering a dog outside between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. is not allowed in the City of Fort Wayne. Dogs may be kept outside in a secure fenced yard or kennel with proper shelter.

Puppies and Unaltered Dogs:
Chaining is not allowed for any dog under the age of six months or for dogs that are unaltered. Dogs may be kept outside in a secure fenced yard or kennel with proper shelter. Dogs housed inside an unheated garage must have a proper shelter inside the garage during cold weather.

Day/Evening:
Spayed or neutered dogs can be tethered outside between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. providing they always have access to a proper shelter located on dry ground free of mud. The required six foot lead may not reach within three feet of another property, public thoroughfare, or right of way.  

Multiple dogs:
No more than three altered dogs are allowed to be tethered at the same time between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. on one property. Multiple dogs may not have contact with each other while they are tethered.  Tethering will be unlawful at any home where Animal Control must be sent to untangle tethers more than two times in a year.

Assistance for Dog Owners:
Dogs are safest when kept inside the home, properly socialized and obedience trained. Neighbors are less likely to report nuisance barking. Crate training is a safe and effective method for bringing a dog inside the home. Visit our pet care pages for tips on crate training and for a list of local obedience training schools. If you need assistance with your dog, e-mail us at adoptionhelp@ci.ft-wayne.in.us

Potentially Dangerous Dogs:
A change to City Ordinance now gives animal control officers a tool to impede a dog's actions that will land a case in court.  The law provides for a classification of “Potentially Dangerous,” so that behaviors of a dog can be pre-empted with proactive measures before a situation becomes life-threatening. The Potentially Dangerous classification is a tool used to reduce dog bites in Fort Wayne.

Dogs Running Loose:
If a dog bites a person or animal while running loose it can be ordered to be spayed or neutered. The owner of the dog may be required to attend a responsible dog care class. Depending on the nature of the attack and the injuries of the victim, other mandates are possible.

The owner may be directed never to tether the dog once it has been declared potentially dangerous, and the dog's confinement can be specified by Animal Care & Control.

Dangerous Dogs:
Although unusual, a dog may be declared dangerous if the animal exhibits vicious behavior in present or past conduct, including but not limited to:

-  Evidence that the animal has, bitten or attacked a person and/or animal three times (or)

-  Did bite or attack, a person or animal, once causing wounds or injuries creating a  potential danger to the health or life of the victim (or)

-  Could not be controlled or restrained at the time of a bite or attack upon an animalor person (or)

-  A dog that has been purchased, bred, sold, trained, or harbored for the purpose of dog fighting (or)

-  The animal has been microchipped by a licensed veterinarian or Animal Care & Control for the purpose of determining a positive occurrence of a prior bite or attack.

A dog that is declared dangerous will be held by Animal Care & Control
pending an investigation.

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