LaPorte County, IN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 94.15 provides that no person who owns, harbors or keeps domestic animals shall permit such animals to run at large or roam the countryside away from the premises where usually kept. AT LARGE is defined as an animal not under the control of its owner or agent by leash or other effective means, with exceptions for hunting or working dogs accompanied by their owner during lawful hunting or training, and for animals on the farm where they're usually kept.

The county backs the ban with a specific fine schedule at § 94.04: a first running-at-large offense draws a verbal or written warning citation and/or impoundment of the animal with reclaim requirements; a second offense carries a $50 fine and/or impoundment; a third carries $100 and/or impoundment. Section 94.35(A)(1) separately authorizes any law enforcement or animal control officer to impound a dog simply for being found running at large within the county, independent of any citation.

If an officer is in fresh pursuit of a loose animal under § 94.25, the officer may follow it onto the owner's or keeper's property to capture it without committing a trespass, though the officer cannot use more than reasonable force. Once impounded, an unlicensed animal must be reclaimed within four days and a licensed animal within 14 days before it becomes eligible for adoption or euthanasia. Behind all of this sits the chapter's general penalty in § 94.99: a first offense fine of $50 to $2,500, and $100 to $5,000 for a second or subsequent offense, with continuing violations counted per day.