505.01 Dogs and other animals running at large.
505.02 Impounding and disposition; records.
505.03 Annual registration of dogs; tags required.
505.04 Abandoning animals.
505.05 Killing or injuring animals.
505.06 Poisoning animals.
505.07 Cruelty to animals generally.
505.071 Cruelty to companion animals.
505.08 Nuisance conditions prohibited.
505.09 Barking or howling dogs.
505.10 Animal bites; reports and quarantine.
505.11 Hunting prohibited.
505.12 Coloring rabbits or baby poultry; sale or display of poultry.
505.13 Vicious and/or dangerous animals.
505.14 Pit bull terriers. (Repealed)
505.15 Sexual conduct with an animal.
505.99 Penalty.
CROSS REFERENCES
See section histories for similar State law
Power to restrain and impound animals - see Ohio R.C. 715.23
Owner or keeper liable for damages - see Ohio R.C. 951.10
Possession of dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes, requirement and licensing - see Ohio R.C. Ch. 935
Dog registration - see Ohio R.C. 955.01
(a) No person, who is the owner or keeper of horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, or poultry, shall permit them to run at large in the public road, highway, street, lane, or alley, or upon unenclosed land, or cause such animals to be herded, kept, or detained for the purpose of grazing on premises other than those owned or lawfully occupied by the owner or keeper of such animals.
(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) Except when a dog is lawfully engaged in hunting and accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the dog, 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(B), (C))
(d) Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(ORC 951.99)
(e) (1) Whoever violates division (b) or (c) of this section shall be fined not less than twenty- five dollars ($25.00) or more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) or more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and may be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
(2) In addition to the penalties prescribed in division (f)(1) of this section, if the offender is guilty of a violation of division (b) or (c) of this section, 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.
(ORC 951.99(E))
(a) A police officer or animal warden may impound every animal or dog found in violation of Section 505.01. If the dog is not wearing a valid registration tag and the owner is not otherwise reasonably determined, notice shall be posted in the pound or animal shelter both describing the dog and place where seized and advising the unknown owner that unless the dog is redeemed within three days, it may thereafter be sold or destroyed according to law. If the dog is wearing a valid registration tag or the identity of the owner, keeper or harborer is otherwise reasonably determined, notice shall be given by certified mail to such owner, keeper or harborer that the dog has been impounded and unless redeemed within fourteen days of the date of notice, it may thereafter be sold or destroyed according to law. Any dog seized and impounded may be redeemed by its owner, keeper or harborer at any time prior to the applicable redemption period upon payment of all lawful costs assessed against the animal and upon providing the dog with a valid registration tag if it has none.
(b) A record of all dogs impounded, the disposition of the same, the owner's name and address where known, and a statement of any costs assessed against the dog shall be kept by any poundkeeper.
(a) Except for guide dogs registered under Ohio R.C. 955.011 and dogs kept by an institution or organization for teaching and research purposes under Ohio R.C. 955.16, 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 such dog to impounding and disposition as provided by Ohio R.C. 955.16.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense.
(ORC 955.99)
(a) No owner or keeper of a dog, cat, or other domestic animal shall abandon the animal.
(ORC 959.01)
(b) Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense.
(ORC 959.99(E)(3))
(a) No person shall maliciously, or willfully and without the consent of the owner, kill or injure a dog, cat, or any other domestic animal that is the property of another. This section does not apply to a licensed veterinarian acting in an official capacity.
(ORC 959.02)
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the value of the animal killed or the injury done amounts to three hundred dollars ($300.00) or more, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 959.99(B))
(a) No person shall maliciously, or willfully and without the consent of the owner, administer poison, except a licensed veterinarian acting in such capacity, to a dog, cat, or any other domestic animal that is the property of another; and no person shall, willfully and without the consent of the owner, place any poisoned food where it may be easily found and eaten by any such animal, either upon his or her own lands or the lands of another.
(ORC 959.03)
(b) Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(ORC 959.99(C))
(a) No person shall:
(1) Torture an animal, deprive one of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill, or impound or confine an animal without supplying it during the confinement with a sufficient quantity of good wholesome food and water;
(2) Impound or confine an animal without affording it, during the confinement, access to shelter from wind, rain, snow, or excessive direct sunlight, if it can reasonably be expected that the animal would otherwise become sick or in some other way suffer. This division does not apply to animals impounded or confined prior to slaughter. For the purpose of this section, "shelter" means an artificial enclosure, windbreak, sunshade, or natural windbreak or sunshade that is developed from the earth's contour, tree development, or vegetation;
(3) Carry or convey an animal in a cruel or inhuman manner;
(4) Keep animals other than cattle, poultry or fowl, swine, sheep, or goats in an enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air, nor feed cows on food that produces impure or unwholesome milk;
(5) Detain livestock in railroad cars or compartments longer than 28 hours after they are so placed without supplying them with necessary food, water, and attention, nor permit the stock to be so crowded as to overlie, crush, wound, or kill each other.
(b) Upon the written request of the owner or person in custody of any particular shipment of livestock, which written request shall be separate and apart from any printed bill of lading or other railroad form, the length of time in which the livestock may be detained in any cars or compartment without food, water, and attention may be extended to 36 hours without penalty therefor. Division (a) of this section does not prevent the dehorning of cattle.
(c) All fines collected for violations of division (a) of this section shall be paid to the society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals, if there is one in the municipality; otherwise, all fines shall be paid to the general fund.
(ORC 959.13)
(d) Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. In addition, the court may order the offender to forfeit the animal or livestock and may provide for its disposition including, but not limited to, the sale of the animal or livestock. If an animal or livestock is forfeited and sold pursuant to this division, the proceeds from the sale first shall be applied to pay the expenses incurred with regard to the care of the animal from the time it was taken from the custody of the former owner. The balance of the proceeds from the sale, if any, shall be paid to the former owner of the animal.
(ORC 959.99(D))
Loading...