Sec. 0.5. The following definitions apply throughout this chapter:
(1) "Abandon" means to desert an animal or to leave the animal without making provision for adequate long term care of the animal. The term does not include leaving an animal in a place that is temporarily vacated for the protection of human life during a disaster.
(2) "Abuse" means to beat, torment, injure, or otherwise harm an animal.
(3) "Adequate bedding" means bedding sufficient to permit a domestic animal to:
(A) remain dry;
(B) remain reasonably clean; and
(C) maintain a normal body temperature.
(4) "Adequate shelter" means a covered enclosure sufficient to:
(A) protect an animal from the elements; and
(B) prevent suffering or injury to an animal;
based on the climate and the animal's species, age, and health.
(5) "Companion animal" has the meaning set forth in IC 35-38-2-2.8.
(6) "Domestic animal" means an animal that is not wild. The term is limited to:
(A) cattle, calves, horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, poultry, ostriches, rhea, and emus; or
(B) an animal of the bovine, equine, ovine, caprine, porcine, canine, feline, camelid, cervidae, or bison species.
(7) "Humane euthanasia" means the humane destruction of an animal using sodium pentobarbital or a derivative, administered in a manner that causes painless loss of consciousness and death. The term does not include a method:
(A) prohibited by section 15 of this chapter; or
(B) involving the use of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or any nonanesthetic inhalant.
(8) "Impound agency" means a state, county, municipal, or township agency with the authority to impound animals for violation of this chapter or IC 15-20-1-4. The term includes the following:
(A) A law enforcement agency.
(B) An animal control agency.
(9) "Mutilate" means to wound, injure, maim, or disfigure an animal by damaging the animal's body parts or to render any part of the animal's body useless. The term includes bodily injury involving:
(A) serious permanent disfigurement;
(B) serious temporary disfigurement;
(C) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily part or organ; or
(D) a fracture.
(10) "Neglect" means:
(A) endangering an animal's health by failing to provide or arrange to provide the animal with food or drink, if the animal is dependent upon the person for the provision of food or drink. Food and drink must be provided in a sufficient quantity to maintain the animal's health and normal development, and in a form that is unspoiled, uncontaminated, and otherwise fit for consumption. Water that is frozen is not sufficient to maintain an animal's health and normal development;
(B) restraining an animal for more than a brief period in a manner that endangers the animal's life or health by the use of a rope, chain, or tether that:
(i) is less than three (3) times the length of the animal;
(ii) is too heavy to permit the animal to move freely; or
(iii) causes the animal to choke;
(C) restraining an animal in a manner that seriously endangers the animal's life or health;
(D) failing to:
(i) provide reasonable care for; or
(ii) seek veterinary care for;
an injury or illness to a dog or cat that seriously endangers the life or health of the dog or cat; or
(E) failing to provide an animal with adequate bedding and adequate shelter.
(11) "Reasonable expenses" includes the cost of:
(A) medical care;
(B) quarantine; and
(C) shelter and board.
(12) "Torture" means:
(A) to inflict extreme physical pain or injury on an animal with the intent of increasing or prolonging the animal's pain;
(B) to administer poison to a domestic animal or expose a domestic animal to a poisonous substance with the intent that the domestic animal ingest the substance;
(C) to destroy an animal by electrocution in a manner inconsistent with section 5 of this chapter;
(D) to intentionally expose an animal to heat or cold beyond an animal's tolerance based on the animal's:
(i) age;
(ii) health;
(iii) medical conditions; or
(iv) physical characteristics;
which results in pain, suffering, or death; or
(E) to knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly starve, dehydrate, or suffocate an animal.
As added by P.L.171-2007, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.111-2009, SEC.10; P.L.141-2019, SEC.8; P.L.41-2021, SEC.8; P.L.52-2023, SEC.2; P.L.80-2026, SEC.7.
