What are the dog laws in Ohio? Does Ohio have dog laws? If you live in this state, you might be wondering what the law says about issues like rabies vaccination, dog bites, dog abandonment, or dog cruelty.
Read on for more information about dog laws in Ohio.
Rabies Vaccination Laws
The Ohio Administrative Code Section 3701-1-29 requires that any animal responsible for a bite must be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days. After this point, they will ideally be returned home. If they are found to be showing symptoms of rabies at this time, they will likely be euthanized for testing.
In Ohio, any dog over four months of age must be vaccinated for rabies. Rabies vaccinations must be performed by a licensed veterinarian. A rabies tag must be worn at all times in order to show proof the animal is vaccinated.
Failure to vaccinate your dog in the state of Ohio is a minor misdemeanor.
Dog Bite Laws
Surprisingly to some, Ohio’s dog bite laws are fairly strict. Ohio is a strict liability state. If a victim is bitten by a dog in Ohio, the dog’s owner will be held liable for the bite and any injuries or damages caused by the dog. The victim does not have to prove the owner was negligent. There are exceptions. For example, if a dog walker had your dog in their custody and the dog bit someone due to improper restraint, the walker would likely be liable, not you.
However, there are cases where dogs will not be considered aggressors in attacks.
Dog owners are not responsible for attacks in which the dog was provoked or protecting the owner. This could include yelling at, hitting, or throwing objects at the dog. Additionally, if you were trespassing on private property and then were attacked by an otherwise contained dog, the dog’s owner would not be liable.
A dangerous dog, particularly a repeat offender, may be euthanized if this is determined to be in the best interest of the safety of the community. After one documented bite, a dog is considered vicious in the state of Ohio. This means that subsequent bites may lead to euthanasia. Additionally, a severe enough attack could lead the court to determine euthanasia is the best course of action even for a first offender.
Dog Abandonment Laws
In Ohio, animal abandonment is prohibited by law. However, the law fails to really define what this constitutes. Section 959.01 reads simply, “No owner or keeper of a dog, cat, or other domestic animal, shall abandon such animal.” It’s unclear what exactly constitutes abandonment. However, one can safely assume that leaving a dog by the side of the road or in the custody of someone else without consent likely applies here.
Dog Cruelty Laws
In Ohio, animal cruelty is most often a misdemeanor. Those found guilty of animal cruelty may face anywhere from 90-180 days in jail, along with fines. A first violation is a first or second degree misdemeanor. However, subsequent violations are fifth-degree violations, which can spell prison time.
Goddard’s Law (passed in 2016), however, made it a felony even for a first offense if the animal suffered serious physical harm. These felony offenses are punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. Most states have laws similar to this one regarding ‘aggravated animal cruelty’. Essentially, if your abuse of an animal was severe, it doesn’t matter if this was your first offense.
As in the other 49 states, dogfighting is a felony in Ohio. This doesn’t apply only to those directly fighting their animals. It also applies to promoters or spectators of these events. Yes — watching a dogfight is also a felony. A first offense in regards to dogfighting is a fourth degree felony. Subsequent offenses are third degree felonies.
Tethering Laws in Ohio
Ohio does not prohibit tethering dogs. Because of this, there are some criticisms in regards to Ohio’s blatant lack of tethering laws. Without proper restrictions, tethering can be dangerous to dogs. However, many Ohio counties have taken tethering laws into their own hands, and there are many county-specific ordinances to be found. This means that, while tethering isn’t illegal in Ohio, it’s a good idea to read up on your local ordinances if you plan to tether. As a rule of thumb, provide tethered dogs with accessible shelter, at least ten feet of clean and maintained space, and never tether to a collar that could potentially choke or strangle the dog.
How Ohio Dog Laws Rank Among Other States
Ohio is ranked as a “middle-tier” state for animal protection laws by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Out of all 50 states, Vermont comes in at number 25 for animal rights — truly, right in the middle. There are some good things about Ohio’s animal law. Ohio has a Good Samaritan law that allows civilians to rescue animals left in hot cars. Veterinarians and social services are required to report suspected animal abuse. However, there is still room for improvement.
There is no mandatory post-conviction possession ban, meaning animal abusers can purchase more animals. Additionally, there is no felony provision for sexual assault of an animal.
