Section 956.01 | Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
"Accredited veterinarian" means a veterinarian a ccredited by the United States department of agriculture.
"Adult dog" means a dog that is twelve months of age or older.
"Animal rescue for dogs" means an individual or organization recognized by the director of agriculture that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs and that is dedicated to the welfare, health, safety, and protection of dogs, provided that the individual or organization does not operate for profit, does not sell dogs for a profit, does not breed dogs, and does not purchase more than nine dogs in any given calendar year unless the dogs are purchased from a dog warden appointed under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, a humane society, or another animal rescue for dogs. "Animal rescue for dogs" includes an individual or organization that offers spayed or neutered dogs for adoption and charges reasonable adoption fees to cover the costs of the individual or organization, including, but not limited to, costs related to spaying or neutering dogs.
"Animal shelter for dogs" means a facility that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs such as a dog pound operated by a municipal corporation, or by a county under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, or that is operated by a humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization that is devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of dogs and other animals.
"Boarding kennel" means an establishment operating for profit that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs solely for the purpose of providing shelter, care, and feeding of the dogs in return for a fee or other consideration.
"Breeding dog" means an unneutered, unspayed dog that is primarily harbored or housed on property that is the dog's primary residence.
"High volume breeder" means an establishment that keeps, houses, and maintains adult breeding dogs that produce at least nine litters of puppies in any given calendar year and, in return for a fee or other consideration, sells sixty or more adult dogs or puppies per calendar year.
"Humane society" means an organization that is organized under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code.
"Dog retailer" means a person who buys, sells, or offers to sell dogs at wholesale for resale to another or who sells or gives one or more dogs to a pet store annually. "Dog retailer" does not include an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a humane society, a medical kennel for dogs, a research kennel for dogs, a pet store, or a veterinarian.
"Environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court" means the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court created in section 1901.011 of the Revised Code.
"Medical kennel for dogs" means a facility that is maintained by a veterinarian and operated primarily for the treatment of sick or injured dogs.
"Pet store" means an individual retail store to which both of the following apply: the store sells dogs to the public ; and with regard to the sale of a dog from the store, the sales person, the buyer of a dog, and the dog for sale are physically present during the sales transaction so that the buyer may personally observe the dog and h elp ensure its health prior to taking custody. "Pet store" does not include an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a humane society, a medical kennel for dogs, or a research kennel for dogs.
"Puppy" means a dog that is under twelve months of age.
"Research kennel for dogs" means a facility housing dogs that is maintained exclusively for research purposes.
"Veterinarian" means either a veterinarian licensed in this state under Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code or a veterinarian licensed out of this state by an applicable state entity.
Available Versions of this Section
- March 13, 2013 – Senate Bill 130 - 129th General Assembly [ View March 13, 2013 Version ]
- March 21, 2017 – Senate Bill 331 - 131st General Assembly [ View March 21, 2017 Version ]
- September 28, 2018 – Amended by House Bill 506 - 132nd General Assembly [ View September 28, 2018 Version ]
- October 17, 2019 – Amended by House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly [ View October 17, 2019 Version ]