Some important excerpts from Chapter 91 of the Hammond, IN Code of Ordinances regarding animals and pets:
Any person owning, keeping, harboring, or having custody of any animal over three months of age and within this municipality must obtain a license.
No owner shall fail to provide his animal with sufficient, good and wholesome food and water, proper shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and humane care and treatment.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own or harbor a dog or cat over the age of three months without a valid rabies vaccination.
Every dangerous animal, as determined by the Licensing Authority, shall be confined by the owner within a building or secure enclosure and shall be securely muzzled or caged whenever off the premises of its owner.
No person shall expose any known poisonous substance, whether mixed with food or not, so that the poisonous substance shall be liable to be eaten by any animal. It shall be unlawful for any person to expose on his property common rat poison mixed only with vegetable substances.
Any person leaving his animal unattended longer than 48 hours shall be guilty of abandonment. All animals shall be kept under restraint.
Every female dog and cat in season shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in a matter that the female dog or cat cannot come into contact with another animal.
Unrestrained dogs, cats and nuisance animals shall be taken by the Police or Animal Control Officers and impounded in a humane manner. Impounded dogs and cats shall be kept for no less than three working days excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.
Dogs and cats must wear identification tags or collars at all times when off the premises of the owners. No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance.
It is unlawful for any person to have, keep, possess, own or harbor any horse, cattle, swine, sheep, rabbit, mule, goat, wolf or wolf-hybrid within the city. No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild animal as a pet.
Any person violating any of the provisions of the Animal Control Ordinances, shall be deemed guilty of a punishable offense and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in an amount not exceeding $500.00. Each day the violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable hereunder.