(a) No person owning, harboring or having the care of a vicious dog shall suffer or permit such dog to be unconfined on the premises of such person.
(b) No person owning, harboring or having the care of a vicious dog shall suffer or permit such dog to go beyond the premises of such person, unless such dog is securely leashed and muzzled or otherwise securely restrained.
(c) No owner, keeper, or harborer of vicious dog shall fail to obtain liability insurance with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this State providing coverage in each occurrence, subject to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) because of damage or bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the vicious dog.
(d) A vicious dog is “unconfined”, as the term is used in this section, if such dog is not securely confined indoors or confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure upon the premises of the person described in subsection (a) hereof. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides. If the structure does not have a secure top, the sides shall extend to a height of six feet above the ground. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides shall be embedded in the ground not less than two feet. The fence shall be made of adequate material to restrain the dog.
(e) As used in this section, “vicious dog” means: A vicious dog, as that term is defined by Ohio R.C. 955.11, or a dog commonly known as a Pit Bull or Pit Bull mixed breed dog, regardless of age, with the exception of puppies commonly known as Pit Bull or Pit Bull mixed breed for which the owner has filed an ownership acknowledgment form in person with the Dog Warden of Lake County, prior to reaching seven days of age. The ownership of these puppies must be transferred according the Ohio R.C. 955.11 before they are three months of age.
(f) Subsections (a) and (b) hereof are necessary control on the unrestrained activity of vicious dogs which threaten the safety of streets, parks, sidewalks, yards and other areas of the Village. Lack of knowledge or lack of intent is not a defense to a violation of this section.
(g) Whoever violates subsections (a), (b), or (c) hereof shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned not more than sixty days, or both. In addition, any vicious dog which attacks a person or another domestic animal may be ordered destroyed when, in the court’s judgment, such vicious dog represents a continuing threat of serious harm to persons or other animals. Any person found guilty of a violation of subsection (a) or (b) hereof shall pay all expenses, including expenses for shelter and/or food, expenses for the identification or certification of the breed of the animal, boarding and veterinary expenses necessitated by the seizure of any dog for the protection of the public and such other expenses as may be required for the destruction of any such dog. (Ord. 2010-050. Passed 7-6-10.)