Section 959.06 | Destruction of domestic animals.
(A) As used in this section, "animal shelter" means a facility operated by a humane society or any society organized under Chapter 1717. of the Revised Code, a dog pound operated pursuant to Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, or a local animal shelter that is operated by any entity of local government.
(B) No person shall destroy any domestic animal by the use of either of the following:
(1) A high altitude decompression chamber; or
(2) Any method other than a method that immediately and painlessly renders the domestic animal initially unconscious and subsequently dead.
(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, no animal shelter shall destroy a domestic animal by the use of a carbon monoxide gas chamber, carbon dioxide gas chamber, or any other nonanesthetic inhalant.
(2) An animal shelter may destroy a domestic animal by the use of a carbon monoxide gas chamber, carbon dioxide gas chamber, or any other nonanesthetic inhalant if the state veterinary medical licensing board, in consultation with the state board of pharmacy, declares that there is a shortage of approved lethal injection substances.
(D) This section does not apply to or prohibit the destruction of an animal under Chapter 941. of the Revised Code, the slaughtering of livestock under Chapter 945. of the Revised Code, or the taking of any wild animal, as defined in section 1531.01 of the Revised Code, when taken in accordance with Chapter 1533. of the Revised Code.
(E) This section does not apply to either of the following:
(1) The lawful practice of veterinary medicine by a person who has been issued a license, temporary permit, or registration certificate under Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code;
(2) An animal used in scientific research conducted by a research facility in accordance with the federal animal welfare act and related regulations. As used in division (E)(2) of this section, "federal animal welfare act" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.
(F) The offenses established under this section are strict liability offenses and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply. The designation of these offenses as strict liability offenses shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
Last updated February 8, 2023 at 3:59 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- January 1, 1981 – House Bill 854 - 113th General Assembly [ View January 1, 1981 Version ]
- April 3, 2023 – Amended by Senate Bill 164 - 134th General Assembly [ View April 3, 2023 Version ]