(a) Except for guide dogs registered under Ohio Revised Code 955.011 and dogs owned or used by an institution of the State, no person shall own, keep or harbor a dog more than three months of age without annually registering such dog with the County Auditor. Failure of any dog at any time to wear a valid registration tag shall be prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and subject each dog to impounding and disposition as provided by Ohio Revised Code 955.16.
(b) In addition to the requirements of section (a) above, no person shall own, keep or harbor a vicious dog more than three months of age without annually registering such dog with the Chief of Police.
(c) Whoever violates section (a) is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense. Whoever violates section (b) is guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor for a first offense and a third degree misdemeanor for each subsequent offense. (Ord. 2002-32. Passed 9-9-02.)