Page 35 - Leisure Living Magazine June 2016

Ohio Dog Owners Must Follow
State Laws
“Law You Can Use” Courtesy of the Ohio State Bar Association
Many laws in Ohio deal with dog ownership and treatment. This article addresses the most basic laws applying to pet dogs.
Q: I’m thinking of getting a dog for a family pet. Does Ohio have any dog laws I should know about?
A: Yes. There are both state statutes and local ordinances. The state statutes define how a dog is determined to be dangerous, and what you can and cannot do with a dog. Local ordinances may ban certain breeds of dogs or restrict the number of dogs you can own in your private home. Local ordinances may also require certain immuniza- tions for your dog. Some local ordinances also include leash laws. Ohio law, however, does not permit pet dogs to run loose. They must be under someone’s control, and if a dog is in heat, she must be on a leash.
Q: Must I have a license for my pet dog?
A: Yes. Every dog over three months of age must be registered with the county auditor by the 31st of every January. If your dog is not registered by January 31, your fee will
double. Depending on local ordi- nances, you
may have
to pay a
higher fee if the dog is not spayed or neutered. Also, your dog must wear a tag issued by the county auditor. If the dog warden sees a dog without a collar or tag on, even in your yard, the warden can seize the dog.
Q: Does Ohio law prevent anyone from owning a dog?
A: Yes. Ohio law now says that anyone who has been convicted of a felony since December 1, 2013, cannot own certain dogs. Such a felon can- not own or live in a residence with an unspayed or unneutered dog, or any dog that has been deemed to be dangerous, until the felon has been released from all sanctions for a period of three years. Even after that three-year waiting period, a felon who owns or lives with a dog must have the dog microchipped for permanent identification. This law does not pertain to any dog owned by a felon before December 1, 2013, or to people while they are in rehabilitation or correctional facilities.
Q: Is there anything legal I have to do if I sell or give away a dog?
A: Yes. If you transfer ownership of any dog, you must give the buyer a signed transfer of owner-
ship certificate. The certificate must contain the dog’s registration number, your name, and a brief description of the dog. You can get blank forms of this certificate from the county auditor, and you will have to pay a $5 fee when you record the form with the auditor. Before you transfer ownership or possession of any dog, you must give the dog’s prospective new owner, upon request, written notice about the dog’s behavior
and propensities.
Continued on page 36
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