Dangerous and Vicious Dog Law Changes Affect County Dog Owners

May 18, 2012 -- Revised dangerous and vicious dog laws in Ohio become effective on May 22, creating new requirements and standards for dog owners in Ohio.  The Wood County Dog Warden, Andrew Snyder, provides the following information to advise county residents of the changes.

Under this revised law if reasonable cause exists and a dog meets the applicable definition, the dog warden or law enforcement officer is required to designate a dog as a nuisance, dangerous, and/or vicious. All unprovoked dog bites will also result in the dog?s automatic designation as a dangerous or vicious dog. 

Dog owners whose dogs have been deemed nuisance, dangerous, or vicious will receive notice from the designating officer of such designation. The owner may request a hearing to contest the designation but must file the request in writing within 10 days of the designation to the municipal or county court that has territorial jurisdiction over the residence of the dog?s owner, keeper, or harborer. 

The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or vicious dog must comply with the following requirements: 

?       post signs indicating the presence of a dangerous or vicious dog,
?       spay or neuter the dog,
?       microchip the dog,
?       obtain and maintain current rabies vaccinations,
?       may have to obtain specific liability insurance coverage, and
?       must register the dangerous or vicious dog annually.

The required registration of a dangerous or vicious dog with the Wood County Auditor costs $50 annually.  This is in addition to the regular annual dog registration and license fee of $14, or $28 if purchased after the required timeframe. 

Confinement of the dangerous or vicious dog must also be in accordance with new, stricter requirements. Persons who are convicted of or plead guilty to certain felony offenses may not own, possess, have custody of or reside in a residence with a dangerous dog or an unspayed or unneutered dog older than twelve weeks of age.  

Section 955.11 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) creates and defines three new classifications of dogs as follows:

NUISANCE DOG:     955.11(A)(3)(a) ORC

Subject to 955.11(a)(3)(b), 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.

DANGEROUS DOG:    955.11(A)(1)(a) ORC

Subject to 955.11(a)(1)(b), dangerous dog means a dog that, without provocation, has done any of the following:

(i)   caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person

(ii) killed another dog

(iii) been the subject of a third or subsequent violation of ORC Section 955.22(c) (i.e., failure to maintain reasonable control of the dog or failure to keep the dog physically confined at all times.)

 VICIOUS DOG:      955.11(A)(6)(a) ORC

Subject to 955.11(a)(6)(b), vicious dog means a dog that, without provocation, has killed or caused serious injury to any person.

The Wood County Dog Shelter encourages dog owners in Wood County to become familiar with the new laws and to contact the shelter for more information, 419.354.9242 or visit www.co.wood.oh.us.