IC 35-46-3-11.5 — Cruelty to a service animal
Chapter 3. Offenses Relating to Animals
Section text
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 Level 6 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.
As added by P.L.143-1996, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.9-2003, SEC.4; P.L.158-2013, SEC.565.
Source: official publisher (2026 edition)