St. Joseph County, IN Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

01 defines a "dangerous animal" by conduct, not breed: an animal that has attacked another animal or livestock off its owner's property, attacked or attempted to attack a human unprovoked, bitten or attacked a person causing injury, been documented at large with aggressive behavior, or been found in violation of the public nuisance provision three or more times at the animal control commission's discretion. The definition exempts injuries inflicted while the victim was committing a crime against the owner, trespassing, or teasing, tormenting or assaulting the animal, and it excludes police K-9s and hunting dogs under their owner's control.

60(C) requires the owner to obtain a dangerous animal permit before harboring, selling, keeping or maintaining it: a written application, proof of at least $300,000 in liability insurance maintained continuously, and notice to animal control within 24 hours if that coverage lapses. The animal must be confined at all times in a six-sided, escape-proof kennel with a minimum of 11-gauge wire fencing, a cement or brick floor, a roof and a lock; outside its kennel it must be muzzled and tethered to its owner or another adult authorized to control it.

The property and the building housing the animal must both carry warning signs whose form the animal control commission sets, the animal must wear a county dangerous-animal registration tag and be microchipped, and it must be spayed or neutered within 30 days of the dangerous declaration. Anyone convicted of a felony involving violence, drugs, animal cruelty or animal fighting cannot be issued the permit at all, and no owner may keep more than one dog that has been declared dangerous.