Owners of dogs and cats in Crothersville will be subject to up to $100 fines for failing to contain and restrain their pets when a new dog & cat ordinance goes into effect next Wednesday, Sept. 3.
The new local ordinance was modeled after one in effect in the county and will be enforced by officers with the Crothersville Police Department.
At their Aug. 5 meeting, the local town council unanimously approved a more restrictive ordinance with increased fines for violators.
Generally, all dogs and cats are to be restrained and contained to the owner’s property.
And female pets in heat are to be confined in a building or secure enclosure to prevent males from contacting the females.
Failure to keep a pet restrained will result in a $25 fine for the first offense. Fines for each subsequent offense within a 12 months increase in increments of $25 per offense.
Failure to restrain a vicious or potentially dangerous dog will result in a $100 fine for the first offense. Fines for each subsequent offense within 12 months of first offense will be $100 per offense.
Failure to post warning signs, if required to do so by the police, for potentially dangerous or vicious dogs and cats can result in a $50 fine.
The new ordinance requires that owners & guardians of dogs and cats shall exercise control of their animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance such as defecating on public or neighbors’ property and failing to remove the feces. Failure to do so can result in a $50 fine.
According to the ordinance all fines levied shall be paid to at town hall within 72 hours of being ticketed. Residents who do not pay the fine within the period prescribed can have a complaint filed against them by the town in Jackson Superior Court 1.
The complete new town ordinance can be found on page 3 of this week’s print edition or online under Public Notices at crothersvilletimes.com.
