State laws Indiana
From Service Dog Training
State laws in Indiana.
Sec. 11.5. (a) As used in this section, "service animal" means an animal that a person who is impaired by:
- (1) blindness or any other visual impairment;
- (2) deafness or any other aural impairment;
- (3) a physical disability; or
- (4) a medical condition;
relies on for navigation, assistance in performing daily activities, or alert signals regarding the onset of the person's medical condition.
- (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally:
- (1) interferes with the actions of a service animal; or
- (2) strikes, torments, injures, or otherwise mistreats a service
animal; while the service animal is engaged in assisting an impaired person described in subsection (a) commits a Class A misdemeanor.
- (c) An offense under subsection (b)(2) is a Class D felony if the act results in the:
- (1) serious permanent disfigurement;
- (2) unconsciousness;
- (3) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ; or
- (4) death; of the service animal.
- (d) It is a defense that the accused person:
- (1) engaged in a reasonable act of training, handling, or disciplining the service animal; or
- (2) reasonably believed the conduct was necessary to prevent injury to the accused person or another person."
This law defines service dogs as part of legislation against cruelty to animals.
"Sec. 2. (a) As used in this section, "public accommodation" means an establishment that caters or offers services, facilities, or goods to the general public.
- (b) A person who:
- (1) is totally or partially blind;
- (2) is hearing impaired; or
- (3) has a physical disability;
is entitled to be accompanied by a guide dog, especially trained for the purpose, in any public accommodation without being required to pay an extra charge for the guide dog. However, the person is liable for any damage done to the accommodation by the dog.
- (c) A person who:
- (1) refuses access to a public accommodation; or
- (2) charges a fee for access to a public accommodation;
to a person who is totally or partially blind, who has a hearing impairment, or who has a physical disability because that person is accompanied by a guide dog commits a Class C infraction.
- (d) A guide dog trainer, while engaged in the training process of a guide dog, is entitled to access to any public accommodation granted by this section."
This law gives public access rights to disabled individuals accompanied by service dogs and penalizes those that refuse access. The wording is consistent with the ADA.
State laws may be superseded by the ADA. For the text of the ADA, click here. For general information about service dogs, click here. If you are looking for information on service dogs in places of business, check out our Information for businesses.
All opinions and summaries on this page are my own and should not be construed as legal advice. If you are in need of advice on the state or federal laws applicable to service dogs you should contact a lawyer. Last revised 9/26/2009
