Chapter 955 | Dogs

Section

Section 955.01 | [Former R.C. 955.02, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Definitions.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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As used in this chapter:

(A) "Vicious dog" means a dog that has been designated as such in accordance with section 955.23 of the Revised Code or a dog that has previously engaged in a vicious dog act when evidence of such engagement is presented to a court and the court determines that the dog has engaged in a previous vicious dog act.

(B) "Dangerous dog" means a dog that has been designated as such in accordance with section 955.23 of the Revised Code or a dog that has previously engaged in a dangerous dog act when evidence of such engagement is presented to a court and the court determines that the dog has engaged in a previous dangerous dog act.

(C) "Nuisance dog" means a dog that has been designated as such in accordance with section 955.23 of the Revised Code or a dog that has previously engaged in a nuisance dog act when evidence of such engagement is presented to a court and the court determines that the dog has engaged in a previous nuisance dog act.

(D) "Nuisance dog act," "dangerous dog act," and "vicious dog act" have the same meanings as in section 955.22 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Police dog" means a dog that has been trained, and may be used, to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.

(F) "Dog kennel" or "kennel" means an establishment that keeps, houses, and maintains adult dogs, as defined in section 956.01 of the Revised Code, for the purpose of breeding the dogs for a fee or other consideration received through a sale, exchange, or lease and that is not a high volume breeder licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 1:57 PM

Section 955.011 | [Amended and renumbered as R.C. 955.021 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Registration for guide, leader, hearing or support dogs to be free and permanent.

Effective:

October 3, 2023

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

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(A) When an application is made for registration of an assistance dog and the owner can show proof by certificate or other means that the dog is an assistance dog, the owner of the dog shall be exempt from any fee for the registration. Registration for an assistance dog shall be permanent and not subject to annual renewal so long as the dog is an assistance dog. Certificates and tags stamped "Ohio Assistance Dog-Permanent Registration," with registration number, shall be issued upon registration of such a dog. Any certificate and tag stamped "Ohio Service Dog-Permanent Registration," with registration number, that was issued for a dog in accordance with this section as it existed on and after November 26, 2004, but prior to June 30, 2006, shall remain in effect as valid proof of the registration of the dog on and after November 26, 2004. Duplicate certificates and tags for a dog registered in accordance with this section, upon proper proof of loss, shall be issued and no fee required. Each duplicate certificate and tag that is issued shall be stamped "Ohio Assistance Dog-Permanent Registration."

(B) As used in this section and in sections 955.16 and 955.43 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Person with a mobility impairment" means any person, regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological impairment regardless of its cause, nature, or extent that renders the person unable to move about without the aid of crutches, a wheelchair, or any other form of support, or that limits the person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or perform any related function. "Person with a mobility impairment" includes a person with a neurological or psychological disability that limits the person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or perform any related function. "Person with a mobility impairment" also includes a person with a seizure disorder and a person who is diagnosed with autism.

(2) "Blind" means either of the following:

(a) Vision twenty/two hundred or less in the better eye with proper correction;

(b) Field defect in the better eye with proper correction that contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty degrees.

(3) "Assistance dog" means a dog that has been trained by a nonprofit or for-profit special agency and that is one of the following:

(a) A guide dog;

(b) A hearing dog;

(4) "Guide dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a blind person.

(5) "Hearing dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a deaf or hearing-impaired person.

(6) "Service dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a person with a mobility impairment.

Last updated March 19, 2026 at 4:58 PM

Section 955.012 | [Amended and renumbered as R.C. 955.022 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Law enforcement canine registration.

Effective:

September 29, 2011

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Law enforcement agency" means the state highway patrol, the office of a county sheriff, the police department of a municipal corporation or township, or a township or joint police district.

(3) "Law enforcement canine" means a dog regularly utilized by a law enforcement agency for general law enforcement purposes, tracking, or detecting the presence of a controlled substance or explosive.

(B) Instead of obtaining an annual registration under section 955.01 of the Revised Code, a law enforcement agency owning, keeping, or harboring a law enforcement canine may obtain an annual registration for the dog as a law enforcement canine under this section. The application for a law enforcement canine registration shall be submitted to the county auditor of the county in which the central office of the law enforcement agency that owns, keeps, or harbors the dog is located, except that for a dog owned, kept, or harbored by the state highway patrol, the application shall be submitted to the county auditor of the county in which is located the state highway patrol post to which the dog and its handler primarily are assigned. The application shall be submitted on or after the first day of December immediately preceding the beginning of the registration year and before the thirty-first day of January of that year. If the period for filing registration applications under division (A)(1) of section 955.01 of the Revised Code is extended in the county in which a law enforcement canine is to be registered, an application for registration under this section shall be submitted to the county auditor not later than the registration deadline for that year, as so extended.

The application for registration of a law enforcement canine shall state the age, sex, hair color, character of hair, whether short or long, and breed, if known, of the dog, the name and address of the owner of the dog, and, if the law enforcement agency keeping or harboring the dog is different from the owner, the name of that law enforcement agency. For a dog owned, kept, or harbored by the police department of a municipal corporation or township or by a township or joint police district, the application shall be signed by the chief of the police department or district. For a dog owned, kept, or harbored by the office of a county sheriff, the application shall be signed by the sheriff. For a dog owned, kept, or harbored by the state highway patrol, the application shall be signed by the officer in charge of the post of the state highway patrol to which the dog and its handler primarily are assigned. The application shall include a certification by the chief of the police department or district, sheriff, or officer of the state highway patrol post, as applicable, that the dog described in the application has been properly trained to carry out one or more of the purposes described in division (A)(3) of this section and actually is used for one or more of those purposes by the law enforcement agency making the application.

No fee is required for issuance of a law enforcement canine registration. Upon proper proof of loss, a duplicate certificate and tag shall be issued for a dog registered under this section, and no fee shall be required.

If an application for registration of a law enforcement canine is not filed under this section on or before the thirty-first day of January of the registration year, or the extended registration deadline established under division (A)(1) of section 955.01 of the Revised Code, as applicable, the law enforcement canine shall be registered under that section, and the registration fee and late registration penalty applicable under divisions (A) and (B) of that section shall accompany the application.

(C) If a law enforcement agency becomes the owner, keeper, or harborer of a law enforcement canine or brings a law enforcement canine into the state after the thirty-first day of January of a registration year or the extended registration deadline established under division (A)(1) of section 955.01 of the Revised Code, as applicable, the law enforcement agency, within thirty days after becoming the owner, keeper, or harborer or bringing the dog into the state, may submit an application for registration of the dog under this section. Upon submission of the application, the law enforcement agency shall be issued such a registration in the manner provided in division (B) of this section. If such an application is not filed within the thirty-day period, the dog shall be registered under section 955.05 of the Revised Code, and the registration fee and late registration penalty applicable under that section or section 955.06 of the Revised Code shall accompany the application.

Last updated March 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Section 955.013 | [Amended and renumbered as R.C. 955.023 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Registration of dogs and kennels via internet.

Effective:

November 5, 2004

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 204 - 125th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) As used in this section, "financial transaction device" has the same meaning as in section 301.28 of the Revised Code.

(B) A county auditor may establish procedures and take actions that are necessary to allow for either or both of the following:

(1) The registration of dogs and kennels under this chapter via the internet;

(2) The payment of dog and kennel registration fees under this chapter by financial transaction devices, including payment by financial transaction devices via the internet.

Last updated March 19, 2026 at 5:02 PM

Section 955.02 | [Former R.C. 955.01, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Registration of dogs.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or in sections 955.021, 955.022, and 955.16 of the Revised Code, every person who owns, keeps, or harbors a dog more than three months of age shall file, on or after the first day of the applicable December, but before the thirty-first day of the applicable January, in the office of the county auditor of the county in which the dog is kept or harbored, an application for registration for a period of one year or three years or an application for a permanent registration. The board of county commissioners, by resolution, may extend the period for filing the application. The applicant shall state the age, sex, color, character of hair, whether short or long, and breed, if known, of the dog and the name and address of the owner of the dog on the application. Along with the application, the applicant shall submit a registration fee of two dollars for each year of registration for a one-year or three-year registration or twenty dollars for a permanent registration for each dog. However, the fee may exceed that amount if a greater fee has been established under division (A)(2) of this section or under section 955.14 of the Revised Code.

(2) A board of county commissioners may establish a registration fee higher than the one provided for in division (A)(1) of this section for a dog more than nine months of age that has not been spayed or neutered, except that the higher registration fee permitted by this division does not apply if the person registering the dog furnishes any of the following with the application:

(a) A certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying that the dog should not be spayed or neutered because of its age or medical condition;

(b) A certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying that the dog should not be spayed or neutered because the dog is used or intended for use for show or breeding purposes;

(c) A certificate from the owner of the dog declaring that the owner holds a valid hunting license issued by the division of wildlife of the department of natural resources and that the dog is used or intended for use for hunting purposes.

(3) If the board establishes a fee under division (A)(2) of this section, the application for registration shall state whether the dog is spayed or neutered, and whether a licensed veterinarian has certified that the dog should not be spayed or neutered or the owner has stated that the dog is used or intended to be used for hunting purposes. The board may require a person who is registering a spayed or neutered dog to furnish with the application a certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying that the dog is spayed or neutered.

(B) If the application for registration is not filed and the registration fee paid, on or before the thirty-first day of the applicable January of each year or, if the board of county commissioners by resolution has extended the date to a date later than the thirty-first day of January, the date established by the board, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee for one year upon the owner, keeper, or harborer, which shall be paid with the registration fee.

(C) A person who is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous dog or vicious dog shall register the dog in accordance with division (A) and division (D) of this section with the county auditor.

(D)(1) A person who is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous dog or vicious dog shall apply for a dangerous dog registration to the county auditor and submit all of the following to the county auditor:

(a) A fee of one hundred dollars;

(b) The person's address, telephone number, and other appropriate means for the county auditor to contact the person, along with proof that the person is eighteen years of age or older;

(i) Either satisfactory evidence of the dog's current rabies vaccination or a statement from a licensed veterinarian that a rabies vaccination is medically contraindicated for the dog;

(ii) Either satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog has been neutered or spayed or a statement from a licensed veterinarian that neutering or spaying of the dog is medically contraindicated;

(iii) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the person has posted and will continue to post clearly visible signs at the person's residence warning both minors and adults of the presence of a dangerous dog on the property;

(iv) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog has been permanently identified by means of a microchip and the dog's microchip number.

(2) The person shall renew the dangerous dog registration annually for the same fee and in the same manner as the initial registration was obtained.

(3) If a dangerous dog registration holder relocates to a new county, the holder shall follow the procedure in division (F) of this section and, upon the expiration of the registration issued in the original county, shall renew the registration in the new county.

(E) Upon submission in accordance with division (D) of this section, the county auditor shall issue a dangerous dog registration to the person. The county auditor also shall provide the owner with a uniformly designed tag that identifies the animal as a vicious or dangerous dog.

(F)(1) If the owner of a vicious or dangerous dog for whom a dangerous dog registration has previously been obtained relocates to a new address within the same county, the owner shall provide notice of the new address to the county auditor within ten days of relocating to the new address.

(2) If the owner of a vicious or dangerous dog for whom a dangerous dog registration has previously been obtained relocates to a new address within another county, the owner shall do both of the following within ten days of relocating to the new address:

(a) Provide written notice of the new address and a copy of the original dangerous dog registration to the county auditor of the new county;

(b) Provide written notice of the new address to the county auditor of the county where the owner previously resided.

(G) An animal shelter that keeps or harbors a dog more than three months of age is exempt from any registration requirements imposed under this section if it is a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1.

(H) No owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall fail to file the application for registration and pay the associated fee as required under division (A) of this section or, if applicable, fail to pay the penalty prescribed in division (B) of this section. A violation of this division is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(I) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a vicious or dangerous dog shall fail to present a valid dangerous dog registration upon request of any law enforcement officer, dog warden, or public health official charged with enforcing this section. A violation of this division is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(J) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or vicious dog shall fail to do any of the following:

(1) Obtain a dangerous dog registration from the county auditor pursuant to this section;

(2) Affix a tag that identifies the dog as a dangerous or vicious dog to the dog's collar;

(3) Ensure that the dog wears the collar and tag at all times.

A violation of division (J) of this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(K) No person shall recklessly furnish a certificate under division (A)(2) of this section that the person knows to be false.

(L)(1) Whoever violates division (H) of this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than one hundred dollars on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars and may be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

(2) Whoever violates division (I) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(3) Whoever violates division (J) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense.

(4) Whoever violates division (K) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 2:11 PM

Section 955.021 | [Former R.C. 955.011, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Free and permanent registration for guide, leader, hearing, or support dogs.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

Download Authenticated PDF

(B) As used in this section and in sections 955.16 and 955.43 of the Revised Code:

(2) "Blind" means either of the following:

(a) Vision twenty/two hundred or less in the better eye with proper correction;

(b) Field defect in the better eye with proper correction that contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty degrees.

(3) "Assistance dog" means a dog that has been trained by a nonprofit or for-profit special agency and that is one of the following:

(a) A guide dog;

(b) A hearing dog;

(4) "Guide dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a blind person.

(5) "Hearing dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a deaf or hearing-impaired person.

(6) "Service dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a person with a mobility impairment.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM

Section 955.022 | [Former R.C. 955.012, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Law enforcement canine registration.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

Download Authenticated PDF

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Law enforcement agency" means the state highway patrol, the office of a county sheriff, the police department of a municipal corporation or township, or a township or joint police district.

(B) Instead of obtaining an annual registration under section 955.02 of the Revised Code, a law enforcement agency owning, keeping, or harboring a law enforcement canine may obtain an annual registration for the dog as a law enforcement canine under this section. The application for a law enforcement canine registration shall be submitted to the county auditor of the county in which the central office of the law enforcement agency that owns, keeps, or harbors the dog is located, except that for a dog owned, kept, or harbored by the state highway patrol, the application shall be submitted to the county auditor of the county in which is located the state highway patrol post to which the dog and its handler primarily are assigned. The application shall be submitted on or after the first day of December immediately preceding the beginning of the registration year and before the thirty-first day of January of that year. If the period for filing registration applications under division (A)(1) of section 955.02 of the Revised Code is extended in the county in which a law enforcement canine is to be registered, an application for registration under this section shall be submitted to the county auditor not later than the registration deadline for that year, as so extended.

If an application for registration of a law enforcement canine is not filed under this section on or before the thirty-first day of January of the registration year, or the extended registration deadline established under division (A)(1) of section 955.02 of the Revised Code, as applicable, the law enforcement canine shall be registered under that section, and the registration fee and late registration penalty applicable under divisions (A) and (B) of that section shall accompany the application.

(C) If a law enforcement agency becomes the owner, keeper, or harborer of a law enforcement canine or brings a law enforcement canine into the state after the thirty-first day of January of a registration year or the extended registration deadline established under division (A)(1) of section 955.02 of the Revised Code, as applicable, the law enforcement agency, within thirty days after becoming the owner, keeper, or harborer or bringing the dog into the state, may submit an application for registration of the dog under this section. Upon submission of the application, the law enforcement agency shall be issued such a registration in the manner provided in division (B) of this section. If such an application is not filed within the thirty-day period, the dog shall be registered under section 955.05 of the Revised Code, and the registration fee and late registration penalty applicable under that section or section 955.06 of the Revised Code shall accompany the application.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:09 PM

Section 955.023 | [Former R.C. 955.013, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Registration of dogs and kennels via internet.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

Download Authenticated PDF

(A) As used in this section, "financial transaction device" has the same meaning as in section 301.28 of the Revised Code.

(B) A county auditor may establish procedures and take actions that are necessary to allow for either or both of the following:

(1) The registration of dogs and kennels under this chapter via the internet;

(2) The payment of dog and kennel registration fees under this chapter by financial transaction devices, including payment by financial transaction devices via the internet.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:10 PM

Section 955.024 | County auditor notification of a dangerous or vicious dog registration or address change.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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Whenever a county auditor registers a dangerous or vicious dog or receives a notification regarding an address change from an owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or vicious dog, the county auditor shall notify in writing the applicable county dog warden of such registration or address change.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:11 PM

Section 955.03 | Dogs are personal property.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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Any dog that has been registered under sections 955.02 and 955.04 of the Revised Code and any dog not required to be registered under such sections shall be considered as personal property and have all the rights and privileges and be subject to like restraints as other livestock.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:22 AM

Section 955.04 | Kennel registration.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) Every owner of a dog kennel shall, in like manner as provided in division (A) of section 955.02 of the Revised Code, make application for the registration of such kennel, and pay to the county auditor a registration fee of ten dollars for each such kennel, unless a greater fee has been established under section 955.14 of the Revised Code. If the application is not filed and the fee paid, on or before the thirty-first day of January of each year, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee upon the owner of such kennel. The payment of the kennel registration fee entitles the licensee to not more than five tags, to bear consecutive numbers and to be issued in like manner and have like effect when worn by any dog owned in good faith by such licensee as the tags provided for in section 955.07 of the Revised Code. Upon application to the county auditor, additional tags, in excess of the five tags, may be issued upon payment of an additional fee of one dollar per tag.

(B) No owner of a kennel shall fail to register the kennel in accordance with this section. A violation of this division is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than one hundred dollars on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars and may be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:23 AM

Section 955.05 | Registration of dog or dog kennel during year.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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After the thirty-first day of January of any year, except as otherwise provided in section 955.022 or 955.16 of the Revised Code, every person, immediately upon becoming the owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog more than three months of age or brought from outside the state during any year, shall file like applications, with fees, as required by section 955.02 of the Revised Code, for registration for a period of one year or three years or an application for permanent registration. If the application is not filed and the fee paid, within thirty days after the dog is acquired, becomes three months of age, or is brought from outside the state, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee for one year upon the owner, keeper, or harborer, which shall be paid with the registration fee. Thereafter, the owner, keeper, or harborer shall register the dog as provided in section 955.02 of the Revised Code, as applicable.

Every person becoming the owner of a dog kennel after the thirty-first day of January of any year shall file like applications, with fees, as required by section 955.04 of the Revised Code, for the registration of such kennel for the current calendar year. If such application is not filed and the fee paid within thirty days after the person becomes the owner of such kennel, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee upon the owner of such kennel.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:24 AM

Section 955.06 | Registration fee for partial year and multiple years.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog becoming three months of age after the first day of July in a calendar year and the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog purchased outside the state after the first day of July in a calendar year shall register the dog in accordance with division (B), (C), or (D) of this section within ninety days of the dog's becoming three months of age or within ninety days of the date of the purchase of the dog, as applicable.

(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog to which division (A) of this section applies may register the dog for the remainder of the current year. The fee for such a registration shall be one-half of the original fee for a one-year registration. Thereafter, the owner, keeper, or harborer shall register the dog for a period of one year, three years, or permanently as provided in section 955.02 of the Revised Code.

(C) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog to which division (A) of this section applies may register the dog for a period consisting of the remainder of the current year and two additional years. The fee for such a registration shall be eighty-three per cent of the original fee for a three-year registration. Thereafter, the owner, keeper, or harborer shall register the dog for a period of one year, three years, or permanently as provided in section 955.02 of the Revised Code.

(D) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog to which division (A) of this section applies may register the dog permanently. The fee for such a registration shall be the same as the original fee for a permanent registration.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:41 AM

Section 955.07 | Certificate of registration and tags - record kept by county auditor.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) Upon the filing of the application for registration required by sections 955.02 and 955.04 of the Revised Code and upon the payment of the registration fee and the administrative fee, if applicable, the county auditor shall assign a distinctive number to every dog or dog kennel described in the application and shall deliver a certificate of registration bearing the number to the owner of the dog or dog kennel. A record of all certificates of registration issued, together with the applications for registration, shall be kept by the auditor in a dog and kennel register until after an audit performed by the auditor of state. This record shall be open to the inspection of any person during reasonable business hours.

(B) In addition to the certificate of registration provided for under division (A) of this section, the county auditor shall issue to every person applying for the registration of a dog and paying the required fee a metal tag for each dog so registered. The form, color, character, and lettering of the tag shall be prescribed by the county auditor. If a tag is lost, a duplicate shall be furnished by the auditor upon proper proof of loss and the payment of five dollars for each duplicate tag issued.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM

Section 955.08 | [Former R.C. 955.09, renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Period of validity.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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Certificates of registration and registration tags shall be valid only during the calendar year or years for which they are issued.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM

Section 955.09 | [Former R.C. 955.10, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Tags to be worn.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) No owner of a dog, except a dog constantly confined to a dog kennel registered under this chapter or licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code, shall fail to require the dog to wear, at all times, a valid tag issued in connection with a certificate of registration under division (A) of section 955.02 of the Revised Code. A violation of this division is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply. A dog found not wearing at any time a valid tag is prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and shall subject any dog found not wearing such a tag to impounding, sale, or destruction.

(B) No person shall recklessly obstruct or interfere with anyone lawfully engaged in capturing an unregistered dog or examining a dog wearing a tag.

(C) No person shall recklessly own, keep, or harbor a dog wearing a fictitious, altered, or invalid registration tag or a registration tag not issued by the county auditor in connection with the registration of such animal.

(D) Whoever violates division (A), (B), or (C) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM

Section 955.10 | [Former R.C. 955.221, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Local ordinances or resolutions pertaining to dog control.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) For the purposes of this section, ordinances or resolutions to control dogs include, but are not limited to, ordinances or resolutions concerned with the ownership, keeping, or harboring of dogs, the restraint of dogs, dogs as public nuisances, and dogs as a threat to public health, safety, and welfare, except that such ordinances or resolutions as permitted in division (B) of this section shall not prohibit the use of any dog which is lawfully engaged in hunting or training for the purpose of hunting while accompanied by a licensed hunter. However, such dogs at all other times and in all other respects shall be subject to the ordinance or resolution permitted by this section, unless actually in the field and engaged in hunting or in legitimate training for such purpose.

(B)(1) A board of county commissioners may adopt and enforce resolutions to control dogs within the unincorporated areas of the county that are not otherwise in conflict with any other provision of the Revised Code.

(2) A board of township trustees may adopt and enforce resolutions to control dogs within the township that are not otherwise in conflict with any other provision of the Revised Code, if the township is located in a county where the board of county commissioners has not adopted resolutions to control dogs within the unincorporated areas of the county under this section. In the event that the board of county commissioners adopts resolutions to control dogs in the county after a board of township trustees has adopted resolutions to control dogs within the township, the resolutions adopted by the county board of commissioners prevail over the resolutions adopted by the board of township trustees.

(3) A municipal corporation may adopt and enforce ordinances to control dogs within the municipal corporation that are not otherwise in conflict with any other provision of the Revised Code.

(D) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense. Fines levied and collected for violations of that division shall be distributed by the mayor or clerk of the municipal or county court in accordance with section 733.40, division (F) of section 1901.31, or division (C) of section 1907.20 of the Revised Code to the treasury of the county, township, or municipal corporation whose resolution or ordinance was violated.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:14 PM

Section 955.11 | Transfer of ownership.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) Upon the transfer of ownership of any dog, the seller of the dog shall give the buyer a transfer of ownership certificate that shall be signed by the seller. The certificate shall contain the registration number of the dog, the name of the seller, and a brief description of the dog. Blank forms of the certificate may be obtained from the county auditor. A transfer of ownership shall be recorded by the auditor upon presentation of a transfer of ownership certificate that is signed by the former owner of a dog and that is accompanied by a fee of five dollars.

(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, prior to the transfer of ownership or possession of a dog, upon the buyer's or other transferee's request, the seller or other transferor of the dog shall give to the person a written notice relative to the behavior and propensities of the dog.

(C) Within ten days after the transfer of ownership or possession of any dog, if the seller or other transferor of the dog has knowledge that the dog is a dangerous dog or vicious dog, the seller or other transferor shall give to the buyer or other transferee, the board of health for the district in which the buyer or other transferee resides, and the dog warden of the county in which the buyer or other transferee resides, a completed copy of a written form on which the seller shall furnish the following information:

(1) The name and address of the buyer or other transferee of the dog;

(2) The age, sex, color, breed, and current registration number of the dog.

In addition, the seller shall answer the following questions, which shall be specifically stated on the form as follows:

"Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

"Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

"Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

"Has the dog previously been designated a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog? If yes, indicate the designation that was assigned, the date of designation, and in which county or city the designation was made."

The seller or other transferor shall obtain the signature of the buyer or other transferee after a statement on the form that the buyer or other transferee understands that such person is acquiring a dangerous or vicious dog.

The dog warden of the county in which the seller resides shall furnish the form to the seller at no cost.

(D)(1) No seller or other transferor of a dog shall fail to comply with the requirements of division (A) of this section. A violation of this division is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(2) No seller or other transferor of a dog shall fail to comply with the requirements of division (B) or (C) of this section. A violation of this division is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(E)(1) Whoever violates division (D)(1) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(2) Whoever violates division (D)(2) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

(F) Division (C) of this section does not apply to an animal shelter for dogs with respect to a dog concerning which it transferred ownership or possession to another person if both of the following apply:

(1) The animal shelter for dogs did not have knowledge and could not have reasonably ascertained that the dog is a dangerous or vicious dog.

(2) Before the transfer of the dog, the animal shelter for dogs asked the following questions of the dog's previous owner, keeper, or harborer, if such person is known and if the dog was not impounded under section 959.132 of the Revised Code:

(a) "Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

(b) "Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

(c) "Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

(d) "Has the dog previously been designated a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog? If yes, indicate the designation that was assigned, the date of designation, and in which county or city the designation was made."

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 5:15 PM

Section 955.12 | Dog wardens.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) Except as provided in section 955.121 of Revised Code, a board of county commissioners shall appoint or employ a county dog warden and deputies in such number, for such periods of time, and at such compensation as the board considers necessary to enforce sections 955.01 to 955.27 and 955.50 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, the warden and deputies shall give bond in a sum not less than five hundred dollars and not more than two thousand dollars, as set by the board, conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties. The bond or bonds may, in the discretion of the board, be individual or blanket bonds. The bonds shall be filed with the county auditor of their respective counties.

(C) The warden and deputies shall make a record of all dogs owned, kept, and harbored in their respective counties. They shall patrol their respective counties and seize and impound on sight all dogs found running at large and all dogs more than three months of age found not wearing a valid registration tag, except any dog that wears a valid registration tag and is: on the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer, under the reasonable control of its owner or some other person, hunting with its owner or its handler at a field trial, kept constantly confined in a dog kennel registered under this chapter or one licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code, or acquired by, and confined on the premises of, an institution or organization of the type described in section 955.16 of the Revised Code. A dog that wears a valid registration tag may be seized on the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer and impounded only in the event of a natural disaster.

(D) If a dog warden has reason to believe that a dog is being treated inhumanely on the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer, the warden shall notify, in writing, the humane society or the appropriate law enforcement authority that has jurisdiction to enforce Chapter 959. of the Revised Code.

(E) The warden and deputies shall also make weekly reports, in writing, to the board in their respective counties of all dogs seized, impounded, redeemed, and destroyed.

(F) The wardens and deputies shall have the same police powers as are conferred upon sheriffs and police officers in the performance of their duties as prescribed by sections 955.01 to 955.27 and 955.50 of the Revised Code. They shall also have power to summon the assistance of bystanders in performing their duties and may serve writs and other legal processes issued by any court in their respective counties with reference to enforcing those sections. County auditors may deputize the wardens or deputies to issue dog licenses as provided in sections 955.01 and 955.14 of the Revised Code.

(G) Whenever any person files an affidavit in a court of competent jurisdiction that there is a dog running at large that is not kept constantly confined either in a dog kennel registered under this chapter or one licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code or on the premises of an institution or organization of the type described in section 955.16 of the Revised Code or that a dog is kept or harbored in the warden's jurisdiction without being registered as required by law, the court shall immediately order the warden to seize and impound the dog. Thereupon the warden shall immediately seize and impound the dog complained of. The warden shall give immediate notice by certified mail to the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog seized and impounded by the warden, if the owner, keeper, or harborer can be determined from the current year's registration list maintained by the warden and the county auditor of the county where the dog is registered, that the dog has been impounded and that, unless the dog is redeemed within fourteen days of the date of the notice, it may thereafter be sold or destroyed according to law. If the owner, keeper, or harborer cannot be determined from the current year's registration list maintained by the warden and the county auditor of the county where the dog is registered, the officer shall post a notice in the pound or animal shelter both describing the dog and place where seized and advising the unknown owner that, unless the dog is redeemed within three days, it may thereafter be sold or destroyed according to law.

(H) No county dog warden shall knowingly fail to perform the warden's duties under this section.

(I) Whoever violates division (H) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:25 AM

Section 955.121 | Appointment of sheriff as county dog warden.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A)(1) In lieu of appointing a county dog warden and deputies under section 955.12 of the Revised Code, a board of county commissioners may appoint the county sheriff to enforce sections 955.01 to 955.27 and 955.50 of the Revised Code. If a board chooses to appoint the county sheriff as the county dog warden, the board shall enter into a two-year written agreement with the sheriff for that purpose at the first meeting in a calendar year following a general election in which at least one of the members of the board was elected.

(2) The agreement may authorize both of the following:

(a) The sheriff to appoint sheriff's deputies or persons other than peace officers as deputy dog wardens;

(b) The transfer of any benefits accrued by employees who are transferred as a result of the county sheriff's being appointed as the county dog warden.

(B) Any dog warden and deputy dog wardens appointed under this section shall comply with both of the following:

(1) Any training requirements applicable to county dog wardens and deputy dog wardens appointed or employed under section 955.12 of the Revised Code;

(2) The requirements established in that section.

(C) If a county sheriff or a sheriff's deputies are appointed as a dog warden or deputy dog wardens under this section, references in this chapter and in Chapters 953., 956., and 959. of the Revised Code to "dog warden" and "deputy dog warden" shall be deemed to be replaced, respectively, with references to "sheriff" and "deputy sheriff."

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:25 AM

Section 955.14 | Increasing dog and kennel registration fees.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) Notwithstanding section 955.02 of the Revised Code, a board of county commissioners by resolution may increase dog and kennel registration fees in the county. The amount of the fees shall not exceed an amount that the board, in its discretion, estimates is needed to pay all expenses for the administration of this chapter. Such a resolution shall be adopted not earlier than the first day of February and not later than the thirty-first day of August of any year and shall specify the registration period or periods to which the increased fees apply. An increase in fees adopted under this division shall be in the ratio of two dollars for each year of registration for a dog registration fee, twenty dollars for a permanent dog registration fee, and ten dollars for a kennel registration fee.

(B) Notwithstanding section 955.20 of the Revised Code, if dog and kennel registration fees in any county are increased above two dollars for each year of registration and twenty dollars for a permanent registration for a dog registration fee and ten dollars for a kennel registration fee under authority of division (A) of this section, then on or before the first day of March following each year in which the increased fees are in effect, the county auditor shall draw on the dog and kennel fund a warrant payable to the college of veterinary medicine of the Ohio state university in an amount equal to ten cents for each one-year dog registration, thirty cents for each three-year dog registration, one dollar for each permanent dog registration, and ten cents for each kennel registration fee received during the preceding year. The money received by the college of veterinary medicine of the Ohio state university under this division shall be applied for research and study of the diseases of dogs, particularly those transmittable to humans, and for research of other diseases of dogs that by their nature will provide results applicable to the prevention and treatment of both human and canine illness.

(C) The Ohio state university college of veterinary medicine shall be responsible to report annually to the general assembly the progress of the research and study authorized and funded by division (B) of this section. The report shall briefly describe the research projects undertaken and assess the value of each. The report shall account for funds received pursuant to division (B) of this section and for the funds expended attributable to each research project and for other necessary expenses in conjunction with the research authorized by division (B) of this section. The report shall be filed with the general assembly by the first day of May of each year.

(D) The county auditor may authorize agents to receive applications for registration of dogs and kennels and to issue certificates of registration and tags. If authorized agents are employed in a county, each applicant for a dog or kennel registration shall pay to the agent an administrative fee of seventy-five cents in addition to the registration fee. The administrative fee shall be the compensation of the agent. The county auditor shall establish rules for reporting and accounting by the agents. No administrative or similar fee shall be charged in any county except as authorized by this division or division (E) of this section.

(E) For any county that accepts the payment of dog and kennel registration fees by financial transaction devices in accordance with section 955.023 of the Revised Code, in addition to those registration fees, the county auditor shall collect for each registration paid by a financial transaction device one of the following:

(1) An administrative fee of seventy-five cents or another amount necessary to cover actual costs designated by the county auditor;

(2) If the board of county commissioners adopts a surcharge or convenience fee for making payments by a financial transaction device under division (E) of section 301.28 of the Revised Code, that surcharge or convenience fee;

(3) If the county auditor contracts with a third party to provide services to enable registration via the internet as provided in section 955.023 of the Revised Code, a surcharge or convenience fee as agreed to between that third party and the county for those internet registration services. Any additional expenses incurred by the county auditor that result from a contract with a third party as provided in this section and section 955.023 of the Revised Code and that are not covered by a surcharge or convenience fee shall be paid out of the allowance provided to the county auditor under section 955.20 of the Revised Code.

(F) The county auditor shall post conspicuously the amount of the administrative fee, surcharge, or convenience fee that is permissible under this section on the web page where the auditor accepts payments for registrations made under division (B)(1) of section 955.023 of the Revised Code. If any person chooses to pay by financial transaction device, the administrative fee, surcharge, or convenience fee shall be considered voluntary and is not refundable.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:26 AM

Section 955.15 | Impounding dogs.

Effective:

September 30, 2021

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

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(A) The board of county commissioners shall provide nets and other suitab le devices for the taking of dogs in a humane manner, provide a suitable place for impounding dogs, make proper provision for feeding and caring for the same, and provide humane methods for destroying dogs.

(B) Subject to division (C) of this section, the dog warden shall deliver any dog that the warden or the warden's deputies have seized to one of the following:

(1) A dog pound operated by the county;

(2) Another animal shelter for dogs, as defined in section 956.01 of the Revised Code, that operates in a manner suitable for a dog pound and that is able to adopt out, transfer out, or humanely destroy dogs in accordance with state law.

(C) A dog warden shall not deliver dogs to an animal shelter for dogs under division (B)(2) of this section unless the board of county commissioners has entered into a written agreement with the animal shelter for dogs to operate as a dog pound on behalf of the county.

(D) A pound or animal shelter for dogs to which a dog has been delivered under division (B) of this section shall deal with the dog in accordance with state law, including the maintenance of any public records pertaining to the intake and disposition of the dog.

(E) The board shall provide for the payment of reasonable compensation to an animal shelter for dogs described in division (B)(2) of this section for its services so performed out of the dog and kennel fund or the county's general revenue fund.

(F) The board may designate and appoint any officers regularly employed by any society organized under sections 1717.02 to 1717.05 of the Revised Code, to act as county dog warden or deputies for the purpose of carrying out sections 955.01 to 955.27 of the Revised Code, if such society whose agents are so employed owns or controls a suitable place for keeping and destroying dogs.

Last updated July 15, 2021 at 1:29 PM

Section 955.151 | Chemical capture of companion animals.

Effective:

March 31, 2021

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 24 - 133rd General Assembly

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(A) As used in this section:

"Animal shelter" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code.

"Certified officer" means an individual who meets the requirements established under section 4729.534 of the Revised Code.

"Chemical capture" means using an anesthetic drug or sedative on a companion animal to do any of the following:

(1) Immobilize and capture;

(2) Attempt to immobilize and capture;

(3) Attempt to immobilize or capture.

"Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

(B) A certified officer appointed or employed by an animal shelter or county dog warden that holds a chemical capture classification granted under section 4729.533 of the Revised Code may, in accordance with that section and rules adopted under it, chemically capture a companion animal to limit injury to the officer, the animal or another animal, or the public.

Section 955.16 | Disposing of impounded dogs.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) Dogs that have been seized by the county dog warden and impounded shall be kept, housed, and fed for three days for the purpose of redemption, as provided by section 955.18 of the Revised Code, unless any of the following applies:

(1) Immediate humane destruction of the dog is necessary because of obvious disease or injury. If the diseased or injured dog is registered, as determined from the current year's registration list maintained by the warden and the county auditor of the county where the dog is registered, the necessity of destroying the dog shall be certified by a licensed veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician. If the dog is not registered, the decision to destroy it shall be made by the warden.

(2) The dog is currently registered on the registration list maintained by the warden and the auditor of the county where the dog is registered and the attempts to notify the owner, keeper, or harborer under section 955.12 of the Revised Code have failed, in which case the dog shall be kept, housed, and fed for fourteen days for the purpose of redemption.

(3) The warden has contacted the owner, keeper, or harborer under section 955.12 of the Revised Code, and the owner, keeper, or harborer has requested that the dog remain in the pound or animal shelter until the owner, harborer, or keeper redeems the dog. The time for such redemption shall be not more than forty-eight hours following the end of the appropriate redemption period.

Any dog not so redeemed may be adopted out or donated to any person, including a nonprofit special agency that is engaged in the training of any type of assistance dogs or to a nonprofit teaching or research institution or organization that is certified by the director of health as being engaged in teaching or research concerning the prevention and treatment of diseases of human beings or animals. The county dog warden may charge an adoption fee for any dog that is adopted. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no dog shall be discharged from the pound or animal shelter until the animal has been registered and furnished with a valid registration tag.

(B) Any dog that is donated to a nonprofit special agency engaged in the training of any type of assistance dogs in accordance with division (A) of this section and any dog that is sold to any nonprofit teaching or research institution or organization shall be discharged from the pound or animal shelter without registration and may be kept by the agency or by the institution or organization without registration so long as the dog is being trained, or is being used for teaching and research purposes.

Any institution or organization certified by the director that obtains dogs for teaching and research purposes pursuant to this section shall, at all reasonable times, make the dogs available for inspection by humane society agents, appointed pursuant to section 1717.06 of the Revised Code, in order that the agents may prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty, as defined in section 1717.01 of the Revised Code, to the dogs.

(C) Any dog that the dog warden or poundkeeper is unable to dispose of, in the manner provided by this section and section 955.18 of the Revised Code, may be humanely destroyed, except that no dog shall be destroyed until twenty-four hours after it has been offered to a nonprofit teaching or research institution or organization, as provided in this section, that has made a request for dogs to the dog warden or poundkeeper.

(D) An owner of a dog that is wearing a valid registration tag who presents the dog to the dog warden or poundkeeper may specify in writing that the dog shall not be offered to a nonprofit teaching or research institution or organization, as provided in this section.

(E) A record of all dogs impounded, the disposition of the same, the owner's name and address, if known, and a statement of costs assessed against the dogs shall be kept by the poundkeeper, and the poundkeeper shall furnish a transcript thereof to the county treasurer quarterly.

A record of all dogs received and the source that supplied them shall be kept, for a period of three years from the date of acquiring the dogs, by all institutions or organizations engaged in teaching or research concerning the prevention and treatment of diseases of human beings or animals.

(F) No person shall recklessly destroy any dog by the use of a high altitude decompression chamber or by any method other than a method that immediately and painlessly renders the dog initially unconscious and subsequently dead.

(G) Whoever violates division (F) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:27 AM

Section 955.17 | Costs - fees.

Effective:

June 29, 1994

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 88 - 120th General Assembly

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(A) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B), (C), and (D) of this section, costs shall be assessed against the owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog seized and impounded under sections 955.12, 955.15, and 955.16 of the Revised Code as follows:

(1)	Filing affidavit and issuing order to seize dog	________	$1.00;
(2)	Seizing dog and delivering to pound	________	4.00;
(3)	Serving or posting of notice to owner	________	2.00;
(4)	Housing and feeding dog per day	________	1.50;
(5)	Selling or destroying dog	________	2.00.

(B) A board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution authorizing the county to perform or contract for the performance of a cost-analysis study to determine the costs to the county of providing the services required under sections 955.12, 955.15, and 955.16 of the Revised Code. The resolution shall define the scope of the study and shall itemize each cost to be analyzed. These costs shall include the direct costs to the county of performing the services required under sections 955.12, 955.15, and 955.16 of the Revised Code and, if the board so desires, may include any reasonable indirect costs determined by the board to be incurred by other county offices in helping the dog warden perform his duties under those sections.

(C) Upon completion of the study, the board shall hold a public hearing at a regular or special session of the board, after giving reasonable notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the hearing's date, time, and place. At the hearing, the board shall consider any proposed fees that are suggested by the conclusions of the study.

(D) After conducting the hearing required by division (C) of this section, the board may, by resolution, establish fees to replace those specified in division (A) of this section for the services listed in that division. The fees so established may exceed those specified in that division by amounts sufficient to cover the direct cost of providing the service, the cost of conducting the cost-analysis study, and, if that study included an analysis of indirect costs, the indirect costs to other county agencies in assisting the dog warden. The board need not adopt the fees suggested by the conclusions of the study, if any. It may adopt fees that are lower than or equal to, but not higher than, any suggested by the study. Fees shall not be increased more often than once every year. Fee increases shall become effective only at the beginning of a calendar year.

(E) The board may establish by resolution, without conducting a cost-analysis study, reasonable fees to cover costs of providing miscellaneous services performed by the dog warden that are not otherwise expressly provided for in this chapter. As used in this division, "miscellaneous services" include, but are not limited to, disposing of dog carcasses, releasing dogs that are accidentally caught or found to be in a state of distress, and preventing dogs from engaging in fights or other objectionable behavior.

(F) The costs and fees authorized by this section shall be a valid claim in favor of the county against the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog seized and impounded under sections 955.12, 955.15, and 955.16 of the Revised Code and not redeemed or sold, or against the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog regarding which miscellaneous services described in division (E) of this section have been provided. The costs and fees shall be recovered by the county treasurer in a civil action against the owner, keeper, or harborer.

Section 955.18 | Redemption of dog.

Effective:

March 23, 1981

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 760 - 113th General Assembly

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Any dog that is seized and impounded under sections 955.12, 955.15, and 955.17 of the Revised Code may be redeemed by its owner, keeper, or harborer at any time prior to the expiration of the applicable redemption period as specified in sections 955.12 and 955.16 of the Revised Code, upon payment to the dog warden or poundkeeper of all costs assessed against the animal and upon providing the animal with a valid registration tag if it has none.

Section 955.19 | Funds.

Effective:

October 1, 1953

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

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All funds received by the county dog warden or poundkeeper in connection with the administration of sections 955.01 to 955.18, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall be deposited in the county treasury and placed to the credit of the dog and kennel fund.

Section 955.20 | Dog and kennel fund.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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The registration fees provided for in sections 955.02 to 955.14 of the Revised Code constitute a special fund known as "the dog and kennel fund." The fees shall be deposited by the county auditor in the county treasury daily as collected. Money in the fund shall be used for the purpose of defraying the cost of furnishing all blanks, records, tags, nets, and other equipment, for the purpose of paying the compensation of county dog wardens, deputies, poundkeepers, and other employees necessary to carry out and enforce sections 955.02 to 955.261 of the Revised Code, and in accordance with section 955.27 of the Revised Code. The board of county commissioners, by resolution, shall appropriate sufficient funds out of the dog and kennel fund, not more than fifteen per cent of which shall be expended by the auditor for registration tags, blanks, records, and clerk hire, for the purpose of defraying the necessary expenses of registering, seizing, impounding, and destroying dogs in accordance with sections 955.01 to 955.27 of the Revised Code, and for the purpose of covering any additional expenses incurred by the county auditor as authorized by division (E)(3) of section 955.14 of the Revised Code.

If the funds so appropriated in any calendar year are found by the board to be insufficient to defray the necessary cost and expense of the county dog warden in enforcing sections 955.02 to 955.27 of the Revised Code, the board, by resolution so provided, may appropriate further funds for the use and purpose of the county dog warden in administering those sections.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:28 AM

Section 955.201 | Ohio pet fund - sterilization services.

Effective:

September 29, 2013

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

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(A) As used in this section and in section 955.202 of the Revised Code, "Ohio pet fund" means a nonprofit corporation organized by that name under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code that consists of humane societies, veterinarians, animal shelters, companion animal breeders, dog wardens, or similar individuals and entities.

(B) The Ohio pet fund shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish eligibility criteria for organizations that may receive financial assistance from the Ohio pet fund. Those organizations may include any of the following:

(a) An animal shelter as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code;

(b) A local nonprofit veterinary association that operates a program for the sterilization of dogs and cats;

(c) A charitable organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and a purpose of which is to support programs for the sterilization of dogs and cats and educational programs concerning the proper veterinary care of those animals.

(2) Establish procedures for applying for financial assistance from the Ohio pet fund. Application procedures shall require eligible organizations to submit detailed proposals that outline the intended uses of the moneys sought.

(3) Establish eligibility criteria for sterilization and educational programs for which moneys from the Ohio pet fund may be used and, consistent with division (C) of this section, establish eligibility criteria for individuals who seek sterilization for their dogs and cats from eligible organizations;

(4) Establish procedures for the disbursement of moneys the Ohio pet fund receives from license plate contributions pursuant to division (C) of section 4503.551 of the Revised Code;

(5) Advertise or otherwise provide notification of the availability of financial assistance from the Ohio pet fund for eligible organizations;

(6) Design markings to be inscribed on "pets" license plates under section 4503.551 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) The owner of a dog or cat is eligible for dog or cat sterilization services from an eligible organization when those services are subsidized in whole or in part by money from the Ohio pet fund if any of the following applies:

(a) The income of the owner's family does not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty guideline.

(b) The owner, or any member of the owner's family who resides with the owner, is a recipient or beneficiary of one of the following government assistance programs:

(i) Low-income housing assistance under the "United States Housing Act of 1937," 42 U.S.C.A. 1437f, as amended, known as the federal section 8 housing program;

(ii) The Ohio works first program established by Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code;

(iii) The medicaid program;

(iv) A program or law administered by the United States department of veterans' affairs or veterans' administration for any service-connected disability;

(v) The supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), administered by the department of job and family services under section 5101.54 of the Revised Code;

(vi) The "special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children" established under the "Child Nutrition Act of 1966," 80 Stat. 885, 42 U.S.C. 1786, as amended, administered by the department of health under section 3701.132 of the Revised Code;

(vii) Supplemental security income under Title XVI of the "Social Security Act," 86 Stat. 1475 (1972), 42 U.S.C.A. 1383, as amended;

(viii) Social security disability insurance benefits provided under Title II of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 401, as amended.

(c) The owner of the dog or cat submits to the eligible organization operating the sterilization program either of the following:

(i) A certificate of adoption showing that the dog or cat was adopted from a licensed animal shelter, a municipal, county, or regional pound, or a holding and impoundment facility that contracts with a municipal corporation;

(ii) A certificate of adoption showing that the dog or cat was adopted through a nonprofit corporation operating an animal adoption referral service whose holding facility, if any, is licensed in accordance with state law or a municipal ordinance.

(2) The Ohio pet fund shall determine the type of documentary evidence that must be presented by the owner of a dog or cat to show that the income of the owner's family does not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty guideline or that the owner is eligible under division (C)(1)(b) of this section.

(D) As used in division (C) of this section, "federal poverty guideline" means the official poverty guideline as revised annually by the United States department of health and human services in accordance with section 673(2) of the "Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981," 95 Stat. 511, 42 U.S.C.A. 9902, as amended, for a family size equal to the size of the family of the person whose income is being determined.

Section 955.21 | Requirement to properly confine or restrain a dog.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) Except as provided in division (F) of this section, no owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall fail at any time to do either of the following:

(1) Keep the dog physically confined or restrained upon the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer by a leash, tether, adequate fence, supervision, or secure enclosure to prevent escape;

(2) Keep the dog under the reasonable control of some person.

A violation of division (A) of this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(B) Whoever commits a violation of this section that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than one hundred dollars on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars and may be imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Additionally, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.

(C) Whoever commits a violation of this section that involves a nuisance dog is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on the first offense and of a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense involving the same dog. Additionally, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the nuisance dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.

(D) Whoever commits a violation of this section that involves a dangerous dog is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the second degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court may order the offender to do either or both of the following:

(1) Personally supervise the dangerous dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors;

(2) Cause that dog to complete dog obedience training.

The court, in the alternative, may order the dangerous dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense.

Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with division (A) of section 955.24 of the Revised Code or at the county dog pound at the owner's expense.

(E) Whoever commits a violation of this section that involves a vicious dog is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court shall order the offender to do both of the following:

(1) Personally supervise the vicious dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors;

(2) Cause that dog to complete dog obedience training.

The court, in the alternative, may order the vicious dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense.

(F) Division (A) of this section does not apply when a dog that has not been designated as a dangerous or vicious dog is lawfully engaged in either of the following:

(1) Hunting, provided the dog is accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the dog;

(2) Field trials.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 11:45 AM

Section 955.22 | Vicious, dangerous, and nuisance dog acts.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) As used in this section and sections 955.11, 955.23, and 955.24 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Vicious dog act" means one of the following actions committed by a dog without provocation, other than by a police dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties:

(a) The killing of any person;

(b) Causing serious injury to any person by physical contact;

(c) Engaging in a dangerous dog act after the dog has been designated as a dangerous dog under section 955.23 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Dangerous dog act" means one of the following actions committed by a dog without provocation, other than by a police dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties:

(a) Causing injury by physical contact, other than killing or serious injury, to any person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack;

(b) Causing serious injury to any person without making physical contact in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack;

(d) Causing serious injury to another dog that results in euthanasia of the dog by a person authorized to perform euthanasia under Ohio law.

(3) "Nuisance dog act" means one of the following actions committed by a dog without provocation and while off the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer, other than by a police dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties:

(a) Chasing or approaching a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack;

(b) Attempting to bite or otherwise endanger any person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack;

(c) Causing injury to any person without making physical contact in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack;

(d) Chasing, threatening, harassing, or injuring another dog or livestock in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack;

(e) Having been the subject of a third or subsequent violation of section 955.21 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Injury" means any physical harm to a person, another dog, or livestock, as applicable, but does not include physical harm resulting from a situation where the dog behaves in a playful, nonaggressive, or age-appropriate manner.

(5) "Serious injury" means any of the following:

(a) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;

(b) Any physical harm that involves a permanent incapacity, whether partial or total, or a temporary, substantial incapacity;

(d) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.

"Serious injury" does not include physical harm resulting from a situation where the dog behaves in a playful, nonaggressive, or age-appropriate manner.

(6) "Without provocation" means either of the following, as applicable:

(a) That a dog was not teased, tormented, or abused by a person, or that the dog was not coming to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a means of carrying out such activity;

(b) That a dog was not attacked by another dog or livestock.

(7) "Animal shelter for dogs" has the same meaning as in section 956.01 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Livestock" does not include poultry.

(B)(1) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog that is not an animal shelter for dogs shall negligently, and no animal shelter for dogs that keeps or harbors a dog shall recklessly, fail to prevent the dog from committing a vicious dog act. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the second degree on each subsequent offense.

(2) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or vicious dog, including an animal shelter for dogs, shall negligently fail to prevent the dog from committing a vicious dog act that involves injuring or killing a person. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

(C)(1) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog that is not an animal shelter for dogs shall negligently, and no animal shelter for dogs that keeps or harbors a dog shall recklessly, fail to prevent the dog from committing a dangerous dog act. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense.

(2) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or vicious dog, including an animal shelter for dogs, shall negligently fail to prevent the dog from committing a dangerous dog act that involves injuring a person. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(D) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog that is not an animal shelter for dogs shall negligently, and no animal shelter for dogs that keeps or harbors a dog shall recklessly, fail to prevent the dog from committing a nuisance dog act. Whoever violates this division is guilty a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

(E) In addition to any other penalty described under this section, and except as provided in division (F) of this section, the court may order a dog that is the subject of an offense under this section to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense if the court finds that the dog did one of the following:

(1) Committed a vicious dog act;

(2) Committed a dangerous dog act;

(3) Injured another dog;

(4) Attempted to bite a person and such attempt resulted in the injury of the person.

(F) In addition to any other penalty described under this section, the court shall order the dog that is the subject of an offense under this section to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense if, as a result of the offense, the dog kills a person or causes serious injury to a person that results in one of the following:

(1) Substantial risk of death;

(2) Permanent incapacity;

(3) Serious permanent disfigurement;

(4) Acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering.

Last updated March 19, 2026 at 4:45 PM

Section 955.221 | [Amended and renumbered as R.C. 955.10 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Local ordinances or resolutions pertaining to dog control.

Effective:

June 21, 1990

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 291 - 118th General Assembly

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(3) A municipal corporation may adopt and enforce ordinances to control dogs within the municipal corporation that are not otherwise in conflict with any other provision of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 19, 2026 at 5:07 PM

Section 955.222 | [Amended and renumbered as R.C. 955.23 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Hearings for dog designation.

Effective:

May 22, 2012

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 14 - 129th General Assembly

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(A) The municipal court or county court that has territorial jurisdiction over the residence of the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog shall conduct any hearing concerning the designation of the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog.

(B) If a person who is authorized to enforce this chapter has reasonable cause to believe that a dog in the person's jurisdiction is a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, the person shall notify the owner, keeper, or harborer of that dog, by certified mail or in person, of both of the following:

(1) That the person has designated the dog a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable;

(2) That the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog may request a hearing regarding the designation in accordance with this section. The notice shall include instructions for filing a request for a hearing in the county in which the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer resides.

(C) If the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog disagrees with the designation of the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable, the owner, keeper, or harborer, not later than ten days after receiving notification of the designation, may request a hearing regarding the determination. The request for a hearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with the municipal court or county court that has territorial jurisdiction over the residence of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer. At the hearing, the person who designated the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog has the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the dog is a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog.

The owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog or the person who designated the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog may appeal the court's final determination as in any other case filed in that court.

(D) A court, upon motion of an owner, keeper, or harborer or an attorney representing the owner, keeper, or harborer, may order that the dog designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog be held in the possession of the owner, keeper, or harborer until the court makes a final determination under this section or during the pendency of an appeal, as applicable. Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions of division (D) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that apply to dangerous dogs regardless of whether the dog has been designated as a vicious dog or a nuisance dog rather than a dangerous dog. The owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog shall not be required to comply with any other requirements established in the Revised Code that concern a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable, until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal.

(E) If a dog is finally determined under this section, or on appeal as described in this section, to be a vicious dog, division (D) of section 955.11 and divisions (D) to (I) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog as if the dog were a dangerous dog, and section 955.54 of the Revised Code applies with respect to the dog as if it were a dangerous dog, and the court shall issue an order that specifies that those provisions apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper, or harborer in that manner. As part of the order, the court shall require the owner, keeper, or harborer to obtain the liability insurance required under division (E)(1) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code in an amount described in division (H)(2) of section 955.99 of the Revised Code.

(F) As used in this section, "nuisance dog," "dangerous dog," and "vicious dog" have the same meanings as in section 955.11 of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 19, 2026 at 5:10 PM

Section 955.23 | [Former R.C. 955.222, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Vicious, dangerous, and nuisance dog designation procedures.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) As used in this section, "authorized person" means a person who is authorized to enforce this chapter.

(B) If a dog warden or other authorized person has probable cause to believe that a dog in the person's jurisdiction committed a nuisance dog act, dangerous dog act, or vicious dog act, the person shall proceed as follows:

(1)(a) If the dog warden or other authorized person determines that it is safe to have that dog remain in the custody of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer and the dog's act did not result in the killing of a person or serious injury to a person, the dog warden or authorized person may designate the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog. Upon such designation, the dog warden or other authorized person shall notify the owner, keeper, or harborer of that dog, by certified mail or in person, of both of the following:

(i) That the dog warden or other authorized person has designated the dog a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable;

(ii) That the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog may request a hearing regarding the designation in accordance with this section. The notice shall include instructions for filing a request for a hearing in the court that has territorial jurisdiction over the location where the alleged act occurred.

(b) If the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog disagrees with the designation, the owner, keeper, or harborer, not later than ten calendar days after receiving notification of the designation, may request a hearing regarding the determination. The request for a hearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with the court specified in the notice.

(2) If the dog warden or other authorized person holds or intends to hold the dog in custody in accordance with division (F)(2) of this section, the dog warden or other authorized person shall petition the court that has territorial jurisdiction over the location where the alleged act occurred to hold a hearing to determine whether the court shall issue an order designating the dog in accordance with this section and determine the disposition of the dog.

(C) The court, not later than ten calendar days after receiving the hearing request described in division (B)(1)(b) of this section or the petition described in division (B)(2) of this section shall hold the hearing and, at the conclusion of the hearing, issue a final determination concerning whether the dog shall be designated a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog and the disposition of the dog. At the hearing, the person who petitioned the court or designated the dog, as applicable, has the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the dog committed a nuisance dog act, dangerous dog act, or vicious dog act.

(D) For purposes of this section, probable cause may be supported by one or more written statements of a witness describing the incident or incidents in which the witness saw the dog engage in a nuisance dog act, a dangerous dog act, or a vicious dog act.

(E) The owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog or the person who designated the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog may appeal the court's final determination as in any other case filed in that court.

(F)(1) If the dog warden or other authorized person has probable cause to believe that a dog in the person's jurisdiction committed a nuisance dog act, dangerous dog act, or vicious dog act and the dog warden or authorized person determines that it is safe to have the dog remain in the custody of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer, the dog shall be held in the possession of the owner, keeper, or harborer during the pendency of any hearing conducted under this section or during the pendency of an appeal.

Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions of division (A) of section 955.24 of the Revised Code. The owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog shall not be required to comply with any other requirements established in the Revised Code that concern a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable, until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal.

(2) If the dog warden or other authorized person has probable cause to believe that a dog in the person's jurisdiction committed a nuisance dog act, dangerous dog act, or vicious dog act, during the pendency of a court's determination or appeal under this section, the dog shall be held in the custody of the dog warden or authorized person if one or both of the following occurs:

(a) The dog warden or authorized person determines that it is not safe to have the dog remain in the custody of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer after the commission of the alleged act.

(b) The dog's act killed a person or caused serious injury to a person.

While the dog is being so held, the cost of the holding is the responsibility of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer. However, the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer shall not be responsible for such costs if the court does not determine that the dog be designated as a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog.

(G)(1) Except as provided in division (G)(2) of this section, the court may order a dog that is designated as a dangerous or vicious dog in accordance with this section to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense.

(2) The court shall order a dog that is designated in accordance with this section to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense if the court determines that the dog killed a person or caused serious injury to a person that results in one of the following:

(a) Substantial risk of death;

(b) Permanent incapacity;

(d) Acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering.

(H) The court may order a dog that is designated as a nuisance dog in accordance with this section to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense if the court finds that the dog injured another dog or attempted to bite a person and such attempt resulted in the injury of the person.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 11:51 AM

Section 955.24 | [Former R.C. 955.22, amended and renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Vicious and dangerous dog ownership requirements.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a vicious or dangerous dog shall fail to do any of the following:

(1) While that dog is outdoors, but on the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, securely confine the dog at all times in a locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard with fencing that is sufficiently constructed to prevent escape, or other locked enclosure that has a top;

(2) While that dog is inside a residential dwelling or other building on the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, and there is an invitee inside the dwelling or building, securely confine the dog at all times inside the dwelling or building so that there is no reasonable probability that the dog comes into contact with the invitee;

(3) While that dog is off the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, keep that dog on a chain-link leash or tether that is not more than six feet in length and additionally do at least one of the following:

(a) Keep that dog in a locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard with fencing that is sufficiently constructed to prevent escape, or other locked enclosure that has a top;

(b) Have the leash or tether controlled by a person who is of suitable age and discretion or securely attach, tie, or affix the leash or tether to the ground or a stationary object or fixture so that the dog is adequately restrained and station such a person in close enough proximity to that dog so as to prevent it from causing injury to any person;

A violation of division (A) of this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(B) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a vicious or dangerous dog shall fail to do any of the following:

(1) Obtain liability insurance in an amount, exclusive of interest and costs, that equals or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars, with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in each occurrence because of damage or bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the vicious or dangerous dog;

(2) Provide proof of that liability insurance upon request to any law enforcement officer, county dog warden, or public health official charged with enforcing this section;

(3) Notify the local dog warden immediately if any of the following occurs:

(a) The dog is loose or unconfined.

(b) The dog bites a person, unless the dog is on the property of the owner of the dog, and the person who is bitten is unlawfully trespassing or committing a criminal act within the boundaries of that property.

(4) If the dog is sold, given to another person, or dies, notify the county auditor and the dog warden within ten days of the sale, transfer, or death;

(5) Prior to any training or veterinary care provided to the dog by a trainer or licensed veterinarian, disclose to the trainer or licensed veterinarian, as applicable, that the dog is a vicious or dangerous dog.

A violation of division (B) of this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply.

(1) Debark or surgically silence a dog that the person knows or has reason to believe is a vicious or dangerous dog;

(2) Possess a vicious or dangerous dog if the person knows or has reason to believe that the dog has been debarked or surgically silenced;

(3) Falsely attest on a waiver form provided by the veterinarian that the person's dog is not a vicious or dangerous dog or otherwise provide false information on that written waiver form.

(D) Before a veterinarian debarks or surgically silences a dog, the veterinarian may give the owner of the dog a written waiver form that attests that the dog is not a vicious or dangerous dog. The written waiver form shall include all of the following:

(1) The veterinarian's license number and current business address;

(2) The number of the license of the dog if the dog is licensed;

(3) A reasonable description of the age, coloring, and gender of the dog as well as any notable markings on the dog;

(4) The signature of the owner of the dog attesting that the owner's dog is not a dangerous dog;

(5) A statement that Ohio law prohibits any person from doing any of the following:

(a) Debarking or surgically silencing a dog that the person knows or has reason to believe is a vicious or dangerous dog;

(b) Possessing a vicious or dangerous dog if the person knows or has reason to believe that the dog has been debarked or surgically silenced;

(c) Falsely attesting on a waiver form provided by the veterinarian that the person's dog is not a vicious or dangerous dog or otherwise provide false information on that written waiver form.

(E) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation of division (C) of this section that the veterinarian who is charged with the violation obtained, prior to debarking or surgically silencing the dog, a written waiver form that complies with this section and that attests that the dog is not a vicious or dangerous dog.

(F)(1) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court may order the offender to do either or both of the following:

(a) Personally supervise the vicious or dangerous dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors;

(b) Cause the dog to complete dog obedience training.

(2) The court, in the alternative, may order the vicious or dangerous dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden at the owner's expense.

(G)(1) Whoever violates division (B)(1) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

(2) Whoever violates division (B)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(H) Whoever violates division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. Additionally, the court shall order that the dog involved in the violation be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the county dog warden. Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this section and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions of division (A) of this section or at the county dog pound at the owner's expense.

(I) Divisions (A) and (B) of this section do not apply to an animal shelter for dogs with respect to a dog that it keeps or harbors if both of the following apply:

(1) The animal shelter for dogs did not have knowledge and could not have reasonably ascertained that the dog is a dangerous or vicious dog.

(2) Before taking possession of the dog, the animal shelter for dogs asked the following questions of the dog's previous owner, keeper, or harborer, if such person is known and if the dog was not impounded under section 959.132 of the Revised Code:

(a) "Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

(b) "Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

(c) "Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 12:16 PM

Section 955.25 | [Repealed effective 03/20/2026 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly] Unlawful tag.

Effective:

October 1, 1953

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

PDF:

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No person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog wearing a fictitious, altered, or invalid registration tag or a registration tag not issued by the county auditor in connection with the registration of such animal.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 12:21 PM

Section 955.26 | Rabies quarantine.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A) Whenever, in the judgment of the director of health, any city or general health district board of health, or persons performing the duties of a board of health, rabies is prevalent, the director of health, the board, or those persons shall declare a quarantine of all dogs in the health district or in a part of it. During the quarantine, the owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall keep it confined on the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or in a pound, kennel, or other suitable place, at the expense of the owner, keeper, or harborer, except that a dog may be permitted to leave the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer if it is under leash or under the control of a responsible person. The quarantine order shall be considered an emergency and need not be published.

(B) When the quarantine has been declared, the director of health, the board, or those persons may require vaccination for rabies of all dogs within the health district or part of it. Proof of rabies vaccination within a satisfactory period shall be demonstrated to the county auditor before any registration is issued under section 955.02 of the Revised Code for any dog that is required to be vaccinated.

(C) The director shall determine appropriate methods of rabies vaccination and satisfactory periods for purposes of quarantines under this section.

(D) When a quarantine of dogs has been declared in any health district or part of a health district, the county dog warden and all other persons having the authority of police officers shall assist the health authorities in enforcing the quarantine order. When rabies vaccination has been declared compulsory in any health district or part of a health district, the dog warden shall assist the health authorities in enforcing the vaccination order.

(E) Notwithstanding this section, a city or general health district board of health may make orders pursuant to sections 3709.20 and 3709.21 of the Revised Code requiring the vaccination of dogs.

(F) No person shall recklessly violate a rabies quarantine order issued under this section.

(G) Whoever violates division (F) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:29 AM

Section 955.261 | Duties after dog bites person.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

PDF:

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(A)(1) No person shall remove a dog that has bitten any person from the county in which the bite occurred until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed. No person shall transfer a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed, except that a person may transfer the dog to the county dog warden or to any other animal control authority.

(2)(a) Subject to division (A)(2)(b) of this section, no person shall kill a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed.

(b) Division (A)(2)(a) of this section does not apply to the killing of a dog in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured.

(3) No person who has killed a dog that has bitten any person in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured shall fail to do both of the following:

(a) Immediately after the killing of the dog, notify the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred of the facts relative to the bite and the killing;

(b) Hold the body of the dog until that board of health claims it to perform tests for rabies.

(B) The quarantine period for a dog that has bitten any person shall be ten days or another period that the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred determines is necessary to observe the dog for rabies.

(C)(1) To enable persons to comply with the quarantine requirements specified in divisions (A) and (B) of this section, boards of health shall make provision for the quarantine of individual dogs under the circumstances described in those divisions.

(2) Upon the receipt of a notification pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section that a dog that has bitten any person has been killed, the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred shall claim the body of the dog from its killer and then perform tests on the body for rabies.

(D) This section does not apply to a police dog that has bitten a person while the police dog is under the care of a licensed veterinarian or has bitten a person while the police dog is being used for law enforcement, corrections, prison or jail security, or investigative purposes. If, after biting a person, a police dog exhibits any abnormal behavior, the law enforcement agency and the law enforcement officer the police dog assists, within a reasonable time after the person is bitten, shall make the police dog available for the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred to perform tests for rabies.

(E) Whoever recklessly violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:30 AM

Section 955.262 | [Former R.C. 955.40, renumbered by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Forfeiture.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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Any corporation which violates section 955.26 of the Revised Code shall forfeit and pay to the municipal corporation a sum not to exceed three hundred dollars, to be collected in a civil action brought in the name of the municipal corporation.

The judgment authorized in this section being in the nature of a penalty, or exemplary damages, no proof of actual damages shall be required, but the court or jury, finding other facts to justify recovery, shall determine the amount by reference to all the facts, culpatory, exculpatory, or extenuating, adduced at the trial.

Last updated March 6, 2026 at 4:01 PM

Section 955.27 | Disposition of surplus fund.

Effective:

September 29, 2015

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

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After paying all necessary expenses of administering the sections of the Revised Code relating to the registration, seizing, impounding, and destroying of dogs, including the purchase, construction, and repair of vehicles and facilities necessary for the proper administration of such sections, the board of county commissioners, at the December session, if there remains more than two thousand dollars in the dog and kennel fund for that year in a county in which there is a society for the prevention of cruelty to children and animals, incorporated and organized by law, and having one or more agents appointed pursuant to law, or any other society organized under Chapter 1717. of the Revised Code, that owns or controls a suitable dog kennel or a place for the keeping and destroying of dogs that has one or more agents appointed and employed pursuant to law, may pay to the treasurer of the society, upon warrant of the county auditor, all such excess as the board deems necessary for the uses and purposes of the society.

Section 955.28 | Dog may be killed for certain acts - owner liable for damages.

Effective:

September 30, 2008

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 71 - 127th General Assembly

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(A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of section 955.261 of the Revised Code, a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, that attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, or that kills or injures a person or a dog that chases, threatens, harasses, injures, or kills livestock, poultry, other domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed at the time of that chasing, threatening, harassment, approaching, attempt, killing, or injury. If, in attempting to kill such a dog, a person wounds it, the person is not liable to prosecution under the penal laws that punish cruelty to animals. Nothing in this section precludes a law enforcement officer from killing a dog that attacks a police dog as defined in section 2921.321 of the Revised Code.

(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog, unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time, was committing or attempting to commit criminal trespass or another criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or was committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor against any person, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner's, keeper's, or harborer's property. Additionally, the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog if the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time of the injury, death, or loss, was on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer solely for the purpose of engaging in door-to-door sales or other solicitations regardless of whether the individual was in compliance with any requirement to obtain a permit or license to engage in door-to-door sales or other solicitations established by the political subdivision in which the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer is located, provided that the person was not committing a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor or was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.

Section 955.39 | [Repealed effective 03/20/2026 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly] Prohibition against violating a rabies quarantine.

Effective:

October 1, 1953

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

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No person shall violate a rabies quarantine order issued under section 955.26 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 12:22 PM

Section 955.40 | [Amended and renumbered as R.C. 955.262 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly, effective 03/20/2026] Forfeiture.

Effective:

October 1, 1953

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

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Any corporation which violates section 955.39 of the Revised Code shall forfeit and pay to the municipal corporation a sum not to exceed three hundred dollars, to be collected in a civil action brought in the name of the municipal corporation.

Last updated March 19, 2026 at 5:13 PM

Section 955.41 | Examination of claim.

Effective:

October 13, 2000

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 529 - 123rd General Assembly

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The board of county commissioners, not later than the third regular meeting after it is presented with the account provided for by section 955.42 of the Revised Code, shall examine the account and, if it is found in whole or part correct and just, may order a payment in whole or in part to either the patient, the representative of the patient referred to in that section, or the physician who rendered the patient's medical or surgical treatment, in accordance with their respective claims, provided that a payment is made only for an account with respect to which the board determines the patient, the patient's estate, or the patient's parent or guardian, as applicable, is unable, without deprivation of basic needs, to further provide for the payment of the expenses incurred for the medical or surgical treatment. A person shall not receive for one bite or injury a sum exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars.

Section 955.42 | Reimbursement for rabies bite.

Effective:

October 13, 2000

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 529 - 123rd General Assembly

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A person bitten or injured by an animal afflicted with rabies, if the bite or injury has caused the person to employ medical or surgical treatment, may present, within four months after the bite or injury and at a regular meeting of the board of county commissioners of the county where the bite or injury was received, an itemized account of the expenses incurred and amount paid by the person for medical and surgical treatment, verified by the person's own affidavit and that of the person's attending physician. The administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased person may present such an account, execute such an affidavit on behalf of the deceased person, and present that affidavit and the attending physician's affidavit to the board within that four-month period. If the person so bitten or injured is a minor, the person's parent or guardian may present such an account, execute such an affidavit on behalf of the person, and present that affidavit and the attending physician's affidavit to the board within that four-month period. The person, the administrator or executor, or the parent or guardian, as applicable, shall present, with the account and affidavits, documentation establishing that the person, the person's estate, or the parent or guardian, as applicable, is unable, without deprivation of basic needs, to further provide for the payment of the expenses incurred for the medical or surgical treatment.

Section 955.43 | Dogs with blind, deaf or mobility impaired person.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) As used in this section, "institutions of education" means any of the following:

(1) Any state university or college as defined in section 3345.32 of the Revised Code;

(2) Any private college or university that holds a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio board of regents pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;

(3) Any elementary or secondary school operated by a board of education;

(4) Any chartered or nonchartered nonpublic elementary or secondary school;

(5) Any school issued a certificate of registration by the state board of career colleges and schools.

(B) When a person who is blind, deaf, or hearing impaired, a person with a mobility impairment, or a trainer of an assistance dog is accompanied by an assistance dog, the person or trainer, as applicable, is entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all public conveyances, hotels, lodging places, all places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort, all institutions of education, and other places to which the general public is invited, and may take the dog into such conveyances and places, subject only to the conditions and limitations applicable to all persons not so accompanied, except that:

(1) The dog shall not occupy a seat in any public conveyance.

(2) The dog shall be upon a leash while using the facilities of a common carrier.

(3) Any dog in training to become an assistance dog shall be covered by a liability insurance policy provided by the nonprofit special agency engaged in such work protecting members of the public against personal injury or property damage caused by the dog.

(C) No person shall recklessly deprive a person who is blind, deaf, or hearing impaired, a person who has a mobility impairment, or a trainer of an assistance dog when the person or trainer, as applicable, is accompanied by an assistance dog of any of the advantages, facilities, or privileges provided in division (B) of this section, and no person shall charge the person or trainer a fee or charge for the dog.

(D) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:31 AM

Section 955.44 | Fines credited to dog and kennel fund.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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All fines collected for violations of sections 955.02, 955.09, 955.10, 955.11, 955.12, 955.21, 955.24, and 955.261 of the Revised Code shall be deposited in the county treasury to the credit of the dog and kennel fund.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:32 AM

Section 955.50 | Sale and transportation of dogs.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) No person shall sell, offer to sell, or expose for sale, for the purpose of resale or receive for delivery within this state, or ship from any point within this state to any point outside this state, for sale to the general public at retail, any dog under the age of eight weeks.

(B) No person shall receive from outside this state, or ship from any point within this state to any point outside this state, for sale to the general public at retail, any dog that is not accompanied by a certificate, issued by a licensed veterinarian who is accredited by the United States department of agriculture and authorized to issue health certificates for animals in interstate commerce, certifying that the dog is sufficiently sound and healthy to be reasonably expected to withstand the intended transportation without adverse effect.

(C) This section does not apply to the transportation of dogs in interstate commerce by common carrier, provided that neither the point of shipment nor the point of receiving is within this state.

(D) No person responsible for the transportation of a pregnant dog to any point within this state or from any point within this state to any point outside this state shall be liable in damages for any injury to or illness of, or the death of, the dog or any puppies, whenever the injury, illness, or death results from the birth of such puppies during the time the dog is being transported.

(E) Whoever recklessly violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:32 AM

Section 955.51 | [Repealed effective 03/20/2026 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly] Claims for value of animals injured or killed by coyote.

Effective:

April 15, 2005

Latest Legislation:

Senate Bill 202 - 125th General Assembly

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(A) As used in sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Animal" means a horse, mule, sheep, head of cattle, swine, goat, domestic rabbit, or domestic fowl or poultry.

(2) "Fair market value" means the average price that is paid for a healthy grade animal at a livestock auction selected by the director of agriculture and licensed under Chapter 943. of the Revised Code.

(3) "Grade animal" means an animal that is not eligible for registration by a breed association or in a registry.

(4) "Predator" means a coyote or a black vulture.

(B) An owner of an animal that has been injured or killed by a predator and that the owner believes has a fair market value of more than twenty-five dollars shall do both of the following within seventy-two hours after the loss or injury has been discovered:

(1) Notify the dog warden by telephone;

(2) Document by photograph the wounds sustained by the animal.

If the owner chooses to file a claim under sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code, the owner shall complete a claim form for indemnification in quadruplicate as prescribed by the director in section 955.53 of the Revised Code and provided by the dog warden. The owner may request, and the dog warden shall provide, assistance in filling out the form. For the purposes of section 955.52 of the Revised Code, the owner shall send to the department of agriculture, within thirty days after discovery of the animal, the original copy of the claim form, all photographs documenting the wounds of the animal, and any other pertinent facts in the possession of the owner.

If the animal that is killed or injured is registered by an accepted association or in an accepted registry, the owner shall submit with the claim form that is filed with the department the registration papers showing the animal's lines of breeding, age, and other relevant information. If the animal is the offspring of registered stock and is eligible for registration, the registration papers showing the lines of breeding of the offspring shall be submitted as well.

The owner shall retain a copy of the claim form and provide a copy of the form to both the dog warden and the wildlife officer who investigates the claim, if applicable.

(C) Following notification from the owner of an animal under division (B) of this section, the dog warden promptly shall investigate the loss or injury and shall determine whether or not the loss or injury was made by a predator. If the dog warden determines that the loss or injury was not made by a predator, the owner has no claim under sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code. If the dog warden determines that the loss or injury was made by a predator, the dog warden promptly shall notify by telephone the wildlife officer of that determination. For the purposes of section 955.52 of the Revised Code, the dog warden shall send to the department the dog warden's determination of whether the animal was killed or injured by a predator and any other documents, testimony, or information that the dog warden has received relating to the loss or injury of the animal.

(D) Following notification from the dog warden under division (C) of this section, the wildlife officer shall confirm the determination of the dog warden on the claim, disaffirm it, or state that the wildlife officer is uncertain about the determination. If the wildlife officer disaffirms the determination of the dog warden, the owner has no claim under sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code. If the wildlife officer affirms the determination of the dog warden or states that the wildlife officer is uncertain about that determination, the wildlife officer shall so notify in writing the department for the purposes of section 955.52 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 12:25 PM

Section 955.52 | [Repealed effective 03/20/2026 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly] Hearing on claims for value of animals injured or killed by coyote.

Effective:

April 15, 2005

Latest Legislation:

Senate Bill 202 - 125th General Assembly

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(A)(1) The department of agriculture shall hear claims that are approved by the dog warden and supported by the wildlife officer pursuant to section 955.51 of the Revised Code in the order of their filing and may allow the claims in full or in part, or may disallow any claim, as the testimony and information submitted under that section show to be just. The department shall make the final determination of the fair market value of any animal that is the subject of a claim.

If the animal that is the subject of a claim dies as a result of the injuries that it received from a predator, the amount of indemnity is the fair market value of the animal on the date of its death. If the animal that is the subject of a claim does not die as a result of the injuries that it received from a predator, the amount of indemnity is the fair market value of the animal on the date that it received its injuries. If the animal that is the subject of a claim is registered or eligible for registration as described in division (B) of section 955.51 of the Revised Code, the amount of indemnity is one hundred twenty-five per cent of the fair market value of the animal on the date that the animal was killed or injured. If the date of death or injury of an animal cannot be determined, the amount of indemnity shall be based on the fair market value of the animal on the date that the animal was discovered by its owner.

(2) If the owner of an animal does not agree with the department's determination of the animal's fair market value, the owner may appeal the determination in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(3) The department shall certify any claim or part of a claim that has been found to be valid under division (A)(1) of this section. Claims certified in accordance with this section shall be paid out of money that has been appropriated from the general revenue fund for the purposes of sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code, except that no claim shall be paid from that money if either of the following applies:

(a) A claim for the same loss or injury has been paid or is payable under a policy or policies of insurance. However, a claim may be paid for the amount of any deductible paid or payable by the claimant under such insurance.

(b) The owner of an animal who otherwise would receive indemnity under a claim has been paid more than five hundred dollars within the immediately preceding calendar year from money so appropriated. However, that owner may be paid if the owner has implemented a voluntary animal damage control plan that meets the requirements established in rules adopted under division (D) of this section.

(B) If at any time the money that has been appropriated from the general revenue fund for the purposes of sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code for a fiscal year is not sufficient to pay certified claims, the department shall disapprove those claims. Any claim that has been disapproved due to lack of money shall not be resubmitted.

(C) The department either may assist owners in developing and implementing a voluntary animal damage control plan to prevent and minimize loss or injury to animals by predators or may enter into an agreement with another state agency, a federal agency, or a person to provide such assistance. The department may use no more than fifty per cent or twenty-five thousand dollars, whichever is less, of the money that is appropriated for the purposes of sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code to pay the costs incurred by the department for either providing assistance under this division or entering into an agreement under this division to provide that assistance.

(D) The director of agriculture shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary to administer sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code, including rules that establish requirements governing voluntary animal damage control plans.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 12:26 PM

Section 955.53 | [Repealed effective 03/20/2026 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly] Claim forms for value of animals injured or killed by coyote.

Effective:

April 15, 2005

Latest Legislation:

Senate Bill 202 - 125th General Assembly

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All claims against the money appropriated from the general revenue fund for the purposes of sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code and all accompanying statements and testimony shall be upon claim forms prepared by the director of agriculture and furnished by the dog warden. The forms shall not require an affidavit, but shall contain lines for the signatures of the claimant and witnesses and, immediately above those lines, the sentence, "This statement is made subject to the criminal penalties for falsification provided for in section 2921.13 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 12:27 PM

Section 955.54 | Possession of certain dogs by convicted felons prohibited.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) No person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony offense of violence committed on or after May 22, 2012, or a felony violation of any provision of Chapter 959., 2923., or 2925. of the Revised Code committed on or after May 22, 2012, shall knowingly own, possess, have custody of, or reside in a residence with any of the following for a period of three years commencing either upon the date of release of the person from any period of incarceration imposed for the offense or violation or, if the person is not incarcerated for the offense or violation, upon the date that the person plead guilty to or was convicted of the offense or violation:

(1) An unspayed or unneutered dog older than twelve weeks of age;

(2) Any dog that has been determined to be a dangerous dog or vicious dog under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code;

(3) Any dog that does not have a permanently implanted microchip that has an identification number that is unique to the microchip.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any person who is confined in a correctional institution of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(2) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any person with respect to any dog that the person owned, possessed, had custody of, or resided in a residence with prior to May 22, 2012.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:34 AM

Section 955.60 | Vicious, dangerous, and nuisance dog acts.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A) Any person authorized to enforce this chapter shall investigate any complaint that indicates a possible violation of any provision of this chapter involving a dog.

(B) If, after investigating an alleged violation of this chapter under division (A) of this section, an authorized person does not cite a person for or charge a person with a violation, the authorized person shall notify, in accordance with division (C) of this section, the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog that there has been a complaint regarding the dog and that the authorized person investigated a possible violation. The notice shall specify both of the following:

(1) A citation to the applicable provision or provisions of law at issue;

(2) Contact information for the authorized person.

(C) The authorized person shall post the notice on the door of the dwelling at which the dog resides within twenty-four hours after the authorized person concludes the investigation.

Last updated March 9, 2026 at 11:40 AM

Section 955.61 | Dog attack notifications.

Effective:

March 20, 2026

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly

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(A)(1) If a health care provider or a licensed veterinarian has knowledge of a person being bitten or injured as a result of an attack by a dog or other non-human mammal, the provider or veterinarian shall report the bite or injury, not later than twenty-four hours after obtaining such knowledge, to the health commissioner of the health district in which the bite occurred.

(2) A person who is bitten or injured as a result of an attack by a dog or other non-human mammal may report the bite or injury to the health commissioner of the health district in which the bite occurred.

(B) A city or general health district board of health shall annually submit a report regarding non-human mammalian bites and injuries occurring in its district to the department of health not later than the first day of March of each year. The report shall include information about the bites and injuries that occurred in the previous calendar year.

Last updated March 9, 2026 at 11:40 AM

Section 955.99 | [Repealed effective 03/20/2026 by H.B. 247, 136th General Assembly] Penalty.

Effective:

May 22, 2012

Latest Legislation:

House Bill 14 - 129th General Assembly

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(A)(1) Whoever violates division (E) of section 955.11 of the Revised Code because of a failure to comply with division (B) of that section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(2) Whoever violates division (E) of section 955.11 of the Revised Code because of a failure to comply with division (C) or (D) of that section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

(B) Whoever violates section 955.10, 955.23, 955.24, or 955.25 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(C) Whoever violates section 955.261, 955.39, or 955.50 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

(D) Whoever violates division (F) of section 955.16 or division (B) of section 955.43 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(E)(1) Whoever violates section 955.21 of the Revised Code, violates division (B) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code, or commits a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than one hundred dollars on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars and may be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

(2) In addition to the penalties prescribed in division (E)(1) of this section, if the offender is guilty of a violation of division (B) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code or a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.

(F)(1) Whoever commits a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a nuisance dog is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on the first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense involving the same dog. Upon a person being convicted of or pleading guilty to a third violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code involving the same dog, the court shall require the offender to register the involved dog as a dangerous dog.

(2) In addition to the penalties prescribed in division (F)(1) of this section, if a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code involves a nuisance dog, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the nuisance dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.

(G) Whoever commits a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a dangerous dog or a violation of division (D) of that section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dangerous dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both, and the court may order the offender to obtain liability insurance pursuant to division (E) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code. The court, in the alternative, may order the dangerous dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane society at the owner's expense. With respect to a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a dangerous dog, until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of that division and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with division (D) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code or at the county dog pound at the owner's expense.

(H)(1) Whoever commits a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a vicious dog is guilty of one of the following:

(a) A felony of the fourth degree if the dog kills a person. Additionally, the court shall order that the vicious dog be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane society at the owner's expense.

(b) A misdemeanor of the first degree if the dog causes serious injury to a person. Additionally, the court may order the vicious dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane society at the owner's expense.

(2) If the court does not order the vicious dog to be destroyed under division (H)(1)(b) of this section, the court shall issue an order that specifies that division (D) of section 955.11 and divisions (D) to (I) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog as if the dog were a dangerous dog and that section 955.54 of the Revised Code applies with respect to the dog as if it were a dangerous dog. As part of the order, the court shall order the offender to obtain the liability insurance required under division (E)(1) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code in an amount, exclusive of interest and costs, that equals or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars. Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions described in division (D) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code or at the county dog pound at the owner's expense.

(I) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of section 955.01 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(J) Whoever violates division (E)(2) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(K) Whoever violates division (C) of section 955.221 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense. Fines levied and collected for violations of that division shall be distributed by the mayor or clerk of the municipal or county court in accordance with section 733.40, division (F) of section 1901.31, or division (C) of section 1907.20 of the Revised Code to the treasury of the county, township, or municipal corporation whose resolution or ordinance was violated.

(L) Whoever violates division (F)(1), (2), or (3) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. Additionally, the court shall order that the dog involved in the violation be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane society. Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of division (F)(1), (2), or (3) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions of division (D) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code or at the county dog pound at the owner's expense.

(M) Whoever violates division (E)(1), (3), or (4) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(N) Whoever violates division (I)(4) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(O) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of section 955.54 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(P)(1) If a dog is confined at the county dog pound pursuant to division (G), (H), or (L) of this section, the county dog warden shall give written notice of the confinement to the owner of the dog. If the county dog warden is unable to give the notice to the owner of the dog, the county dog warden shall post the notice on the door of the residence of the owner of the dog or in another conspicuous place on the premises at which the dog was seized. The notice shall include a statement that a security in the amount of one hundred dollars is due to the county dog warden within ten days to secure payment of all reasonable expenses, including medical care and boarding of the dog for sixty days, expected to be incurred by the county dog pound in caring for the dog pending the determination. The county dog warden may draw from the security any actual costs incurred in caring for the dog.

(2) If the person ordered to post security under division (P)(1) of this section does not do so within ten days of the confinement of the animal, the dog is forfeited, and the county dog warden may determine the disposition of the dog unless the court issues an order that specifies otherwise.

(3) Not more than ten days after the court makes a final determination under division (G), (H), or (L) of this section, the county dog warden shall provide the owner of the dog with the actual cost of the confinement of the dog. If the county dog warden finds that the security provided under division (P)(1) of this section is less than the actual cost of confinement of the dog, the owner shall remit the difference between the security provided and the actual cost to the county dog warden within thirty days after the court's determination. If the county dog warden finds that the security provided under division (P)(1) of this section is greater than that actual cost, the county dog warden shall remit the difference between the security provided and the actual cost to the owner within thirty days after the court's determination.

(Q) As used in this section, "nuisance dog," "dangerous dog," and "vicious dog" have the same meanings as in section 955.11 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 3, 2026 at 12:27 PM