505.01 DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE.

   (a)   No person being the owner or having charge of cattle, horses, swine, sheep, geese, ducks, goats, turkeys, chickens or other fowl or animals shall permit them to run at large upon any public place, or upon any unenclosed lands or upon the premises of another.

(ORC 951.02)

   (b)   No owner, keeper or harborer of any female dog shall permit it to go beyond the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer at any time the dog is in heat, unless the dog is properly in leash.

   (c)   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.

         (ORC 955.22)

   (d)   The running at large of any such animal in or upon any of the places mentioned in this section is prima-facie evidence that it is running at large in violation of this section.

(ORC 951.02)

   (e)   (1)   Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (ORC 951.99)

      (2)   A.   Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense.

         B.   In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection (e)(2)A. hereof, if the offender is guilty of a violation of subsection (b) hereof, 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.

      (3)   A.   1.   Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog or vicious dog is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense.

            2.   In addition to the penalties prescribed above, if the offender is guilty of a violation of subsection (c) hereof, 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.

         B.   1.   Whoever commits a violation of subsection (c) hereof, 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 subsection (c) hereof, 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 above, if a violation of subsection (c) hereof 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 obedience training, or to do both.

         C.   Whoever commits a violation of subsection (c) hereof that involves a dangerous dog, 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 Ohio R.C. 955.22. 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 subsection (c) hereof 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 Ohio R.C. 955.22 or at the County Dog Pound at the owner’s expense.

         D.   1.   Whoever commits a violation of subsection (c) hereof that involves a vicious dog is guilty of one or the following:

               a.   A felony, if the dog kills a person, and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. 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;

            2.   If the court does not order the vicious dog to be destroyed under subsection (e)(3)D.1.b. hereof, the court shall issue an order that specifies that division (D) of Ohio R.C. 955.11 and divisions (D) to (I) of Ohio R.C. 955.22 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 Ohio R.C. 955.54 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 Ohio R.C. 955.22 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 subsection (c) hereof 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 Ohio R.C. 955.22 or at the County Dog Pound at the owner’s expense.

               (ORC 955.99)