(a) Except for guide, leader or listener dogs, or dogs in training to become guide, leader or listener dogs, registered under Ohio R.C. 955.011, and dogs kept by an institution or organization for teaching or 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. No owner/guardian of a dog, except a dog constantly confined to a registered kennel, shall fail to require the dog to wear, at all times, a valid tag issued in connection with a certificate of registration. 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 shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor 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) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and may be imprisoned for not more than 30 days.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 157-11. Passed 7-5-11.)