Section 956.03 | Adoption of rules.
The director of agriculture shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing all of the following:
(A) Requirements and procedures governing high volume breeders, including the licensing and inspection of and record keeping by high volume breeders, in addition to the requirements and procedures established in this chapter;
(B) Requirements and procedures for conducting background investigations of each applicant for a license issued under section 956.04 of the Revised Code in order to determine if the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the violations specified in division (A)(2) of section 956.15 of the Revised Code;
(C) Requirements and procedures governing dog retailers, including the licensing of and record keeping by dog retailers, in addition to the requirements and procedures established in this chapter;
(D) The form of applications for licenses issued under this chapter and the information that is required to be submitted in the applications and the form for registering as an animal rescue for dogs under this chapter and the information that is required to be provided with a registration, including the name and address of each foster home that an animal rescue for dogs utilizes;
(E) A requirement that each high volume breeder submit to the director, with an application for a high volume breeder license, evidence of insurance or, in the alternative, evidence of a surety bond payable to the state to ensure compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it. The face value of the insurance coverage or bond shall be in the following amounts:
(1) Five thousand dollars for high volume breeders keeping, housing, and maintaining not more than twenty-five adult dogs;
(2) Ten thousand dollars for high volume breeders keeping, housing, and maintaining at least twenty-six adult dogs, but not more than fifty adult dogs;
(3) Fifty thousand dollars for high volume breeders keeping, housing, and maintaining more than fifty adult dogs.
The rules shall require that the insurance be payable to the state or that the surety bond be subject to redemption by the state, as applicable, upon a suspension or revocation of a high volume breeder license for the purpose of paying for the maintenance and care of dogs that are seized or otherwise impounded from the high volume breeder in accordance with this chapter.
(F)(1) For high volume breeders, standards of care governing all of the following:
(a) Housing;
(b) Nutrition;
(c) Exercise;
(d) Grooming;
(e) Biosecurity and disease control;
(f) Waste management;
(g) Whelping;
(h) Any other general standards of care for dogs.
(2) In adopting rules under division (F)(1) of this section, the director shall consider the following factors, without limitation:
(a) Best management practices for the care and well-being of dogs;
(b) Biosecurity;
(c) The prevention of disease;
(d) Morbidity and mortality data;
(e) Generally accepted veterinary medical standards and ethical standards established by the American veterinary medical association;
(f) Standards established by the United States department of agriculture under the federal animal welfare act as defined in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.
(G) Procedures for inspections conducted under section 956.10 of the Revised Code in addition to the procedures established in that section, and procedures for making records of the inspections;
(H)(1) A requirement that an in-state retailer of a puppy or adult dog provide to the purchaser the complete name, address, and telephone number of all high volume breeders, dog retailers, and private owners that kept, housed, or maintained the puppy or adult dog prior to its coming into the possession of the retailer or proof that the puppy or adult dog was acquired through an animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, or humane society, or a valid health certificate from the state of origin pertaining to the puppy or adult dog;
(2) A requirement that an out-of-state retailer of a puppy or adult dog that is conducting business in this state provide to the purchaser a valid health certificate from the state of origin pertaining to the puppy or adult dog and the complete name, address, and telephone number of all breeders, retailers, and private owners that kept, housed, or maintained the puppy or adult dog prior to its coming into the possession of the retailer or proof that the puppy or adult dog was acquired through an animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, or humane society in this state or another state.
(I) A requirement that a high volume breeder or a dog retailer who advertises the sale of a puppy or adult dog include with the advertisement the vendor number assigned by the tax commissioner to the high volume breeder or to the dog retailer if the sale of the puppy or dog is subject to the tax levied under Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code;
(J) A requirement that a licensed high volume breeder and a licensed dog retailer comply with Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code. The rules shall authorize the director to suspend or revoke a license for failure to comply with that chapter. The director shall work in conjunction with the tax commissioner for the purposes of rules adopted under this division.
(K) Any other requirements and procedures that are determined by the director to be necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and rules adopted under it. However, rules adopted under this division shall not establish additional requirements and procedures governing animal rescues for dogs other than those adopted under division (D) of this section.
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 9, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly [ View October 9, 2021 Version ]