Skip to main content
Back To Top Top Back To Top
The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 951 | Animals Running At Large; Strays

 
 
 
Section
Section 951.02 | Animals running at large on public roads - grazing on another's land.
 

No person, who is the owner or keeper of horses, mules, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, swine, llamas, alpacas, or poultry, shall permit them to run at large in the public road, highway, street, lane, or alley, or upon unenclosed land, or cause the animals to be herded, kept, or detained for the purpose of grazing on premises other than those owned or lawfully occupied by the owner or keeper of the animals.

Section 951.10 | Damages; evidence.
 

(A) The owner or keeper of an animal described in section 951.02 of the Revised Code, who negligently permits it to run at large in violation of that section, is liable for all damages resulting from injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by the animal in any of the places specified in section 951.02 of the Revised Code or upon the premises of another without reference to the fence that may enclose the premises.

(B) The running at large of any animal specified in section 951.02 of the Revised Code in or upon any of the places specified in that section is prima-facie evidence in a civil action for damages under division (A) of this section that the owner or keeper of the animal negligently permitted the animal to run at large in violation of section 951.02 of the Revised Code.

Section 951.11 | Strays.
 

A person finding an animal at large in violation of section 951.02 of the Revised Code, may, and a law enforcement officer of a county, township, city, or village, on view or information, shall, take and confine that animal, promptly giving notice of the taking and confining of the animal to the owner or keeper, if known, and, if not known, by publishing a notice describing the animal once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, township, city, or village where the animal was found. If the owner or keeper does not appear and claim the animal and pay the compensation prescribed in section 951.13 of the Revised Code for so taking, advertising, and keeping it within ten days from the date of the notice, that person or the county shall have a lien for that compensation, and the animal may be sold at public auction as provided in section 1311.49 of the Revised Code. The residue of the proceeds of sale shall be paid and deposited by the treasurer in the general fund of the county.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 951.12 | Unavoidable escapes.
 

If it is proven that an animal running at large in violation of section 951.02 of the Revised Code escaped from its owner or keeper without the owner's or keeper's knowledge or fault, the animal shall be returned to its owner or keeper upon payment of the compensation prescribed in section 951.13 of the Revised Code for its taking, advertising, and keeping.

Section 951.13 | Fees.
 

The person or county, township, city, or village whose law enforcement officer takes an animal running at large in violation of section 951.02 of the Revised Code is entitled to receive from the owner or keeper of the animal the following compensation:

(A) For taking and advertising each animal, five dollars;

(B) Reasonable expenses actually incurred for keeping each animal.

Compensation for taking, advertising, and keeping a single herd or flock shall not exceed fifty dollars when the flock or herd belongs to one person.

Section 951.99 | Penalty.
 

Whoever recklessly violates section 951.02 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.