Rule 901:1-8-01 | Definitions.
As used in this chapter of the Administrative Code:
(A) "Animal rescue for dogs" means an individual or organization recognized by the director of Ohio department of agriculture that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs and that is dedicated to the welfare, health, safety, and protection of dogs, provided that the individual or organization does not operate for profit, does not sell dogs for a profit, does not breed dogs, does not sell dogs to a dog broker or pet store, and does not purchase more than nine dogs in any given calendar year unless the dogs are purchased from a dog warden appointed under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, a humane society, or another animal rescue for dogs. "Animal rescue for dogs" includes an individual or organization that offers spayed or neutered dogs for adoption and charges reasonable adoption fees to cover the costs of the individual or organization, including, but not limited to, costs related to spaying or neutering dogs.
(B) "Animal shelter" means a facility that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs such as a dog pound operated by a municipal corporation, or by a county under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, or that is operated by a humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization that is devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of dogs and other animals.
(C) "Department" means the Ohio department of agriculture.
(D) "Dog broker" means a person who buys, sells, or offers to sell dogs at wholesale for resale to another or who sells or gives one or more dogs to a pet store annually. "Dog broker" does not include an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a humane society, a medical kennel for dogs, a research kennel for dogs, a pet store, or a veterinarian.
(E) "Humane society" means an organization that is organized under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code.
(F) "Pet store" means an individual retail store to which both of the following apply: the store sells forty or more puppies or adult dogs to the public; and with regard to the sale of a dog from the store, the sales person, the buyer of a dog, and the dog for sale are physically present during the sales transaction so that the buyer may personally observe the dog and help ensure the dog's health prior to taking custody. "Pet store" does not include an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a humane society, a medical kennel for dogs, a research kennel for dogs, a high volume breeder, or any other dog breeder that maintains and sells dogs from the same premises where the dogs are bred and reared.
(G) "Qualified breeder" has the same meaning as set out in section 956.19 of the Revised Code.
Last updated January 3, 2023 at 8:45 AM
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