(A) No owner or keeper of a dog, cat, or other domestic animal shall abandon the animal.
(R.C. § 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.
(R.C. § 959.99(E)(3)) (Rev. 2003)
(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.
(R.C. § 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 $300 or more, whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(R.C. § 959.99(B))
(C) This section does not apply to a person killing or injuring an animal or attempting to do so while endeavoring to prevent it from trespassing upon his or her enclosure, or while it is so trespassing, or while driving it away from his or her premises; provided within 15 days thereafter, payment is made for damages done to such animal by killing or injuring, less the actual amount of damage done by such animal while so trespassing, or a sufficient sum of money is deposited with the nearest judge of a county court or judge of a municipal court having jurisdiction within such time to cover the damages. The deposit shall remain in the custody of such judge until there is a determination of the damage resulting from such killing or injury and from the trespass. The judge and his or her bondsmen shall be responsible for the safekeeping of such money and for the payment thereof as for money collected upon a judgment.
(R.C. § 959.04)
(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.
(R.C. § 959.03)
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 959.99(C))
(C) This section does not apply to a person killing or injuring an animal or attempting to do so while endeavoring to prevent it from trespassing upon his or her enclosure, or while it is so trespassing, or while driving it away from his or her premises; provided that within 15 days thereafter, payment is made for damages done to such animal by killing or injuring, less the actual amount of damage done by such animal while so trespassing, or a sufficient sum of money is deposited with the nearest judge of a county court or judge of a municipal court having jurisdiction within such time to cover the damages. The deposit shall remain in the custody of such judge until there is a determination of the damage resulting from such killing or injury and from the trespass. The judge and his or her bondsmen shall be responsible for the safekeeping of such money and for the payment thereof as for money collected upon a judgment.
(R.C. § 959.04)
(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.
(R.C. § 959.13)
(D) Cruelty to companion animals.
(1) As used in this section:
ANIMAL RESCUE FOR DOGS. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 956.01.
BOARDING KENNEL. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 956.01.
CAPTIVE WHITE-TAILED DEER. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 1531.01.
COMPANION ANIMAL. Means any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept, including a pet store as defined in R.C. § 956.01. The term does not include livestock or any wild animal.
CRUELTY. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 1717.01.
DOG KENNEL. Means an animal rescue for dogs, a boarding kennel, or a training kennel.
FEDERAL ANIMAL WELFARE ACT. Means the “Laboratory Animal Act of 1966", Pub. L. No. 89-544, 80 Stat. 350 (1966), 7 U.S.C. §§ 2131 et seq., as amended by the “Animal Welfare Act of 1970", Pub. L. No. 91-579, 84 Stat. 1560 (1970), the “Animal Welfare Act Amendments of 1976", Pub. L. No. 94-279, 90 Stat. 417 (1976), and the “Food Security Act of 1985", Pub. L. No. 99-198, 99 Stat. 1354 (1985), and as it may be subsequently amended.
LIVESTOCK. Means horses, mules, and other equidae; cattle, sheep, goats, and other bovidae; swine and other suidae; poultry; alpacas; llamas; captive white- tailed deer; and any other animal that is raised or maintained domestically for food or fiber.
PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4741.01.
RESIDENTIAL DWELLING. Means a structure or shelter or the portion of a structure or shelter that is used by one or more humans for the purpose of a habitation.
SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM. Means any of the following:
1. Physical harm that carries an unnecessary or unjustifiable substantial risk of death;
2. Physical harm that involves either partial or total permanent incapacity;
3. Physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.
TORMENT. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 1717.01.
TORTURE. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 1717.01.
TRAINING KENNEL. Means an establishment operating for profit that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs for the purpose of training the dogs in return for a fee or other consideration.
WILD ANIMAL. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 1531.01.
(2) No person shall knowingly torture, torment, needlessly mutilate or maim, cruelly beat, poison, needlessly kill, or commit an act of cruelty against a companion animal.
(3) No person shall knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal.
(4) No person who confines or who is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal shall negligently do any of the following:
(a) Torture, torment, or commit an act of cruelty against the companion animal;
(b) Deprive the companion animal of necessary sustenance or confine the companion animal without supplying it during the confinement with sufficient quantities of good, wholesome food and water if it can reasonably be expected that the companion animal would become sick or suffer in any other way as a result of or due to the deprivation or confinement;
(c) Impound or confine the companion animal without affording it, during the impoundment or confinement, with access to shelter from heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, or excessive direct sunlight if it can reasonably be expected that the companion animal would become sick or suffer in any other way as a result of or due to the lack of adequate shelter.
(5) No person who confines or who is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal shall recklessly deprive the companion animal of necessary sustenance or confine the companion animal without supplying it during the confinement with sufficient quantities of good, wholesome food and water.
(6) No owner, manager, or employee of a dog kennel who confines or is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal shall knowingly do any of the following:
(a) Torture, torment, needlessly mutilate or maim, cruelly beat, poison, needlessly kill, or commit an act of cruelty against the companion animal;
(b) Deprive the companion animal of necessary sustenance or confine the companion animal without supplying it during the confinement with sufficient quantities of good, wholesome food and water if it is reasonably expected that the companion animal would die or experience unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering as a result of the deprivation or confinement;
(c) Impound or confine the companion animal without affording it, during the impoundment or confinement, with access to shelter from heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, or excessive direct sunlight if it is reasonably expected that the companion animal would die or experience unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering as a result of or due to the lack of adequate shelter.
(7) No owner, manager, or employee of a dog kennel who confines or is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal shall negligently do any of the following:
(a) Torture, torment, or commit an act of cruelty against the companion animal;
(b) Deprive the companion animal of necessary sustenance or confine the companion animal without supplying it during the confinement with sufficient quantities of good, wholesome food and water if it can reasonably be expected that the companion animal would become sick or suffer in any other way as a result of or due to the deprivation or confinement;
(c) Impound or confine the companion animal without affording it, during the impoundment or confinement, with access to shelter from heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, or excessive direct sunlight if it can reasonably be expected that the companion animal would become sick or suffer in any other way as a result of or due to the lack of adequate shelter.
(8) Divisions (D)(2), (D)(3), (D)(4), (D)(5), (D)(6), and (D)(7) of this section do not apply to any of the following:
(a) A companion animal used in scientific research conducted by an institution in accordance with the federal animal welfare act and related regulations;
(b) The lawful practice of veterinary medicine by a person who has been issued a license, temporary permit, or registration certificate to do so under R.C. Chapter 4741;
(c) Dogs being used or intended for use for hunting or field trial purposes, provided that the dogs are being treated in accordance with usual and commonly accepted practices for the care of hunting dogs;
(d) The use of common training devices, if the companion animal is being treated in accordance with usual and commonly accepted practices for the training of animals;
(e) The administering of medicine to a companion animal that was properly prescribed by a person who has been issued a license, temporary permit, or registration certificate under R.C. Chapter 4741.
(9) Notwithstanding any section of the Ohio Revised Code that otherwise provides for the distribution of fine moneys, the Clerk of Court shall forward all fines the Clerk collects that are so imposed for any violation of this division (D) to the Treasurer of the municipality, whose county humane society or law enforcement agency is to be paid the fine money as determined under this division. The Treasurer shall pay the fine moneys to the county humane society or the county, township, municipal corporation, or state law enforcement agency in this state that primarily was responsible for or involved in the investigation and prosecution of the violation. If a county humane society receives any fine moneys under this division, the county humane society shall use the fine moneys either to provide the training that is required for humane society agents under R.C. § 1717.061 or to provide additional training for humane society agents.
(R.C. § 959.131) (Rev. 2024)
(E) 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.
(R.C. § 959.99(D))
(F) (1) Whoever violates division (D)(2) or (D)(5) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense and a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law on each subsequent offense.
(2) Whoever violates division (D)(3) of this section is guilty of a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(3) Whoever violates division (D)(4) 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.
(4) Whoever violates division (D)(6) of this section is guilty of a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(5) Whoever violates division (D)(7) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(6) (a) A court may order a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (D) of this section to forfeit to an impounding agency, as defined in R.C. § 959.132, any or all of the companion animals in that person’s ownership or care. The court also may prohibit or place limitations on the person’s ability to own or care for any companion animals for a specified or indefinite period of time.
(b) A court may order a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A) of this section or division (D) of this section to reimburse an impounding agency for the reasonably necessary costs incurred by the agency for the care of a companion animal that the agency impounded as a result of the investigation or prosecution of the violation, provided that the costs were not otherwise paid under R.C. § 959.132.
(7) If a court has reason to believe that a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (D) of this section has a mental or emotional disorder that contributed to the violation, the court may impose as a community control sanction or as a condition of probation a requirement that the offender undergo psychological evaluation or counseling. The court shall order the offender to pay the costs of the evaluation or counseling.
(R.C. § 959.99(E)) (Rev. 2024)
Statutory reference:Impoundment of companion animals; notice and hearing, see R.C. § 959.132(A) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:
(1) Engage in cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another;
(2) Use, train, or possess any animal for seizing, detaining, or maltreating a domestic animal.
(B) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:
(1) Be employed at cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another;
(2) Do any of the following regarding an event involving cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another:
(a) Wager money or anything else of value on the results of the event;
(b) Pay money or give anything else of value in exchange for admission to or being present at the event;
(c) Receive money or anything else of value in exchange for the admission of another person to the event or for another person to be present at the event;
(d) Use, possess, or permit or cause to be present at the event any device or substance intended to enhance an animal’s ability to fight or to inflict injury on another animal;
(e) Permit or cause a minor to be present at the event if any person present at or involved with the event is conducting any of the activities described in division (B)(1) or (B)(2)(a), (B)(2)(b), (B)(2)(c), or (B)(2)(d) of this section.
(C) A person who knowingly witnesses cockfighting, bearbaiting, or an event in which one animal is pitted against another when a violation of division (B) of this section is occurring at the cockfighting, bearbaiting, or event is an aider and abettor and has committed a violation of this division.
(R.C. § 959.15) (Rev. 2022)
(D) (1) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) Whoever violates division (B) or (C) of this section is guilty of a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(R.C. § 959.99(C), (I)) (Rev. 2018)
Statutory reference:Dogfighting, felony provisions, see R.C. § 959.16(A) Live birds or fowl shall not be used as targets in trapshooting.
(R.C. § 959.17)
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 959.99(C))
(A) No person shall own, harbor or keep in custody a dog which disturbs the peace by barking, yelping, howling or making other loud noises to the annoyance and/or discomfort of any person. Continuous barking, yelping, howling and/or making other loud noises for 15 consecutive minutes by such dog, whether confined inside a residence or building or to the outside area, shall be deemed to have disturbed the peace and to have caused the annoyance and discomfort of persons; provided, that at the time of the complaint, no person or persons were trespassing or threatening to trespass upon the private property of the owner, and provided that the dog was not being teased or provoked in any manner.
(B) Any person who shall allow any dog habitually to remain, be lodged or fed within any dwelling, building, yard or enclosure owned or occupied by such person shall be considered as harboring or keeping such dog.
(C) Upon an initial complaint, an enforcement officer shall warn the person in writing of the violation. Upon a second such complaint within 30 days, the enforcement officer shall charge the person with a violation of this section.
(D) Division (A) of this section does not apply to owners, operators or employees of licensed veterinary hospitals, licensed kennels, or licensed animal boarding establishments, nor does this section apply to blind, deaf, or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired persons when the dog serves as an assistance dog.
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Rev. 2007)
Cross-reference:Nuisances generally, see Chapter 93(A) No owner of a dog, except a dog constantly confined to a dog kennel registered under R.C. Chapter 955 or one licensed under R.C. Chapter 956, shall fail to require the dog to wear, at all times, a valid tag issued in connection with a certificate of registration. A dog found not wearing at any time a valid tag shall be prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and shall subject any dog found not wearing such a tag to impounding, sale, or destruction.
(R.C. § 955.10) (Rev. 2014)
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 955.99(B))
(A) As used in this section:
DANGEROUS DOG.
(a) A dog that, without provocation, and subject to division (b) of this definition, has done any of the following:
1. Caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person;
2. Killed another dog;
3. Been the subject of a third or subsequent violation of R.C. § 955.22(C) or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(b) “Dangerous dog” does not include a police dog that has caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person or has killed another dog while the police dog is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.
MENACING FASHION. Means a dog that would cause any person being chased or approached to reasonably believe that the dog will cause physical injury to that person.
NUISANCE DOG.
(a) Subject to division (b) of this definition, “nuisance dog” means a dog that without provocation and while off the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer has chased or approached a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person.
(b) “Nuisance dog” does not include a police dog that, while being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of official duties, has chased or approached a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person.
POLICE DOG. Means a dog that has been trained and may be used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.
SERIOUS INJURY. Any of the following:
(a) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
(b) Any physical harm that involves a permanent incapacity, whether partial or total, or a temporary, substantial incapacity;
(c) Any physical harm that involves a permanent disfigurement or a temporary, serious disfigurement;
(d) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.
VICIOUS DOG.
(a) A dog that, without provocation and subject to division (b) of this definition, has killed or caused serious injury to any person.
(b) “Vicious dog” does not include either of the following:
1. A police dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person while the police dog is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties;
2. A dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person while a person was committing or attempting to commit a trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog.
WITHOUT PROVOCATION. A dog acts without provocation when it was not teased, tormented, or abused by a person, or it was not coming to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a means of carrying out such activity.
(B) Upon the transfer of ownership of any dog, the seller of the dog shall give the buyer a transfer of ownership certificate that shall be signed by the seller. The certificate shall contain the registration number of the dog, the name of the seller, and a brief description of the dog. Blank forms of the certificate may be obtained from the County Auditor. A transfer of ownership shall be recorded by the Auditor upon presentation of a transfer of ownership certificate that is signed by the former owner of a dog and that is accompanied by a fee of $5.
(C) Prior to the transfer of ownership or possession of any dog, upon the buyer’s or other transferee’s request, the seller or other transferor of the dog shall give to the person a written notice relative to the behavior and propensities of the dog.
(D) Within ten days after the transfer of ownership or possession of any dog, if the seller or transferor of the dog has knowledge that the dog is a dangerous dog, the seller or other transferor shall give to the buyer or transferee, the Board of Health for the district in which the buyer or other transferee resides, and the dog warden of the county in which the buyer or other transferee resides a completed copy of a written form on which the seller shall furnish the following information:
(1) The name and address of the buyer or other transferee of the dog;
(2) The age, sex, color, breed and current registration number of the dog;
(3) In addition, the seller shall answer the following questions which shall be specifically stated on the form as follows:
Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred.
Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred.
Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred.
(4) The dog warden of the county in which the seller resides furnishes the form to the seller at no cost.
(E) No seller or other transferor of a dog shall fail to comply with the applicable requirements of divisions (B) to (D) of this section.
(R.C. § 955.11) (Rev. 2013)
(F) (1) Whoever violates division (E) of this section because failure to comply with division (B) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(2) Whoever violates division (E) of this section because of a failure to comply with division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
(R.C. § 955.99(A)) (Rev. 2013)
(A) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog more than three months of age, nor owner of a dog kennel, shall fail to file an application for registration required by R.C. § 955.01, nor shall he or she fail to pay the legal fee therefor.
(R.C. § 955.21)
(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $100 on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than $75 nor more than $250 and may be imprisoned for not more than 30 days.
(R.C. § 955.99(E))
(A) No person shall obstruct or interfere with anyone lawfully engaged in capturing an unlicensed dog or making an examination of a dog wearing a tag.
(R.C. § 955.24)
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 955.99(B))
(C) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the hindrance, obstruction, resistance, or interference alleged consisted of constitutionally protected speech only.
(A) No person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog wearing a fictitious, altered, or invalid registration tag or a registration tag not issued by the County Auditor in connection with the registration of that animal.
(R.C. § 955.25)
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 955.99(B))
(A) When a person who is blind, deaf, or hearing impaired, a person with a mobility impairment, or a trainer of an assistance dog is accompanied by an assistance dog, the person or trainer, as applicable, is entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all public conveyances, hotels, and lodging places, all places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort, and other places to which the general public is invited, and may take the dog into such conveyances and places, subject only to the conditions and limitations applicable to all persons not so accompanied, except that:
(1) The dog shall not occupy a seat in any public conveyance; and
(2) The dog shall be leashed while using the facilities of a common carrier.
(3) Any dog in training to become an assistance dog shall be covered by a liability insurance policy provided by the nonprofit special agency engaged in such work protecting members of the public against personal injury or property damage caused by the dog.
(B) No person shall deprive a person who is blind, deaf, or hearing impaired, a person who has a mobility impairment, or a trainer of an assistance dog when the person or trainer, as applicable, is accompanied by an assistance dog of any of the advantages, facilities, or privileges provided in division (A) of this section, and no person shall charge the person or trainer a fee or charge for the dog.
(R.C. § 955.43(A), (B)) (Rev. 2024)
(C) As used in this section:
ASSISTANCE DOG. A dog that has been trained by a nonprofit or for-profit special agency and that is one of the following:
(a) A guide dog;
(b) A hearing dog;
(c) A service dog.
BLIND. Means either of the following:
(a) Vision 20/200 or less in the better eye with proper correction;
(b) Field defect in the better eye with proper correction that contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.
GUIDE DOG. Means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a blind person.
HEARING DOG. Means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a deaf or hearing-impaired person.
INSTITUTIONS OF EDUCATION. Means:
(a) Any state university or college as defined in R.C. § 3345.32;
(b) Any private college or university that holds a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio Board of Regents pursuant to R.C. Chapter 1713;
(c) Any elementary or secondary school operated by a board of education;
(d) Any chartered or nonchartered nonpublic elementary or secondary school; or
(e) Any school issued a certificate of registration by the state Board of Career Colleges and Schools.
PERSON WITH A MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT. Any person, regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological impairment regardless of its cause, nature, or extent that renders the person unable to move about without the aid of crutches, a wheelchair, or any other form of support, or that limits the person’s functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or perform any related function. The phrase includes a person with a neurological or psychological disability that limits the person’s functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or perform any related function. The phrase also includes a person with a seizure disorder and a person who is diagnosed with autism.
SERVICE DOG. Means a dog that has been trained or is in training to assist a person with a mobility impairment.
(R.C. §§ 955.011(B), 955.43(C)) (Rev. 2024)
(D) Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 955.99(D))
Cross-reference:Assaulting assistance dog, see § 136.15(A) No person shall sell, offer to sell, or expose for sale to the general public at retail any dog under the age of eight weeks.
(B) No person shall receive or ship, for sale to the general public at retail, any dog that is not accompanied by a certificate, issued by a licensed veterinarian who is accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture and authorized to issue health certificates for animals in interstate commerce, certifying that the dog is sufficiently sound and healthy to be reasonably expected to withstand the intended transportation without adverse effect.
(C) This section does not apply to the transportation of dogs in interstate commerce by common carrier, provided that neither the point of shipment nor the point of receiving is within this state.
(D) No person responsible for the transportation of a pregnant dog shall be liable in damages for any injury or illness of, or the death of, the dog or any puppies, whenever the injuries, illness or death results from the birth of such puppies during the time the dog is being transported.
(R.C. § 955.50)
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense; each subsequent offense is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 955.99(C))
(A) No person shall dye or otherwise color any rabbit or baby poultry, including but not limited to chicks and ducklings. No person shall sell, offer for sale, expose for sale, raffle or give away any rabbit or baby poultry which has been dyed or otherwise colored. No poultry younger than four weeks of age may be sold, given away or otherwise distributed to any person in lots of less than three. Stores, shops, vendors and others offering young poultry for sale or other distribution shall provide and operate brooders or other heating devices that may be necessary to maintain poultry in good health, and shall keep adequate food and water available to the poultry at all times.
(R.C. § 925.62) (Rev. 2024)
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense; each subsequent offense is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(R.C. § 925.99(B))
(A) No person shall throw or cast the rays of a spotlight or other artificial light from any vehicle into any field, woodland, or forest while having in his or her possession a hunting device, or throw or cast the rays of a spotlight or other artificial light from any vehicle into any field, woodland, or forest for the purpose of locating a wild animal.
(B) This section does not apply to law enforcement officers, wildlife officers, military personnel, and officers or employees of the Department of Natural Resources while in the performance of their duties, or to any landowner or lessee having a reason to use a light while engaged in surveillance or protection of his or her property.
(C) An officer whose duty it is to enforce this chapter may arrest a person whom he or she has reasonable grounds to believe is violating this section, search the vehicle for firearms or other hunting implements in the possession or under the control of that person, and seize the same.
(R.C. § 1533.161)
(D) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(R.C. § 1533.99(B))
(A) No person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony offense of violence committed on or after May 22, 2012 or a felony violation of any provision of R.C. Chapter 959, R.C. Chapter 2923 or R.C. Chapter 2925 committed on or after May 22, 2012 shall knowingly own, possess, have custody of, or reside in a residence with either of the following for a period of three years commencing either upon the date of release of the person from any period of incarceration imposed for the offense or violation or, if the person is not incarcerated for the offense or violation, upon the date of the person’s final release from the other sanctions imposed for the offense or violation:
(1) An unspayed or unneutered dog older than 12 weeks of age;
(2) Any dog that has been determined to be a dangerous dog under R.C. Chapter 955 or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(B) A person described in division (A) of this section shall microchip for permanent identification any dog owned, possessed by, or in the custody of the person.
(C) (1) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any person who is confined in a correctional institution of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
(2) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any person with respect to any dog that the person owned, possessed, had custody of, or resided in a residence with prior to May 22, 2012.
(R.C. § 955.54) (Rev. 2013)
(D) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(R.C. § 955.99(O)) (Rev. 2013)
(A) As used in this section:
ANIMAL. Means a nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian, either dead or alive.
OFFENSE. Means a violation of this section or an attempt, in violation of R.C. § 2923.02, to violate this section.
OFFICER. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 959.132.
SEXUAL CONDUCT. Means either of the following committed for the purpose of sexual gratification:
(a) Any act done between a person and animal that involves contact of the penis of one and the vulva of the other, the penis of one and the penis of the other, the penis of one and the anus of the other, the mouth of one and the penis of the other, the mouth of one and the anus of the other, the vulva of one and the vulva of the other, the mouth of one and the vulva of the other, any other contact between a reproductive organ of one and a reproductive organ of the other, or any other insertion of a reproductive organ of one into an orifice of the other;
(b) Without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose to do so, the insertion, however slight, of any part of a person’s body or any instrument, apparatus, or other object into the vaginal, anal, or reproductive opening of an animal.
(B) No person shall knowingly engage in sexual conduct with an animal or knowingly possess, sell, or purchase an animal with the intent that it be subjected to sexual conduct.
(C) No person shall knowingly organize, promote, aid, or abet in the conduct of an act involving any sexual conduct with an animal.
(R.C. § 959.21) (Rev. 2022)
(D) (1) Whoever violates 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.
(R.C. § 959.99(D)) (Rev. 2018)
(2) If a court has reason to believe that a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section suffers from a mental or emotional disorder that contributed to the violation, the court may impose as a community control sanction or as a condition of probation a requirement that the offender undergo psychological evaluation or counseling. The court shall order the offender to pay the costs of the evaluation or counseling.
(R.C. § 959.99(E)(7)) (Rev. 2018)
Whoever violates any provision of this chapter for which another penalty is not specifically provided shall be subject to the penalty as provided in § 10.99.