Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 955 | Dogs
Section 955.261 | Duties After Dog Bites Person.

Effective: April 9, 2001
Latest Legislation: House Bill 701 - 123rd General Assembly
(A)(1) No person shall remove a dog that has bitten any person from the county in which the bite occurred until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed. No person shall transfer a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed, except that a person may transfer the dog to the county dog warden or to any other animal control authority.
(2)(a) Subject to division (A)(2)(b) of this section, no person shall kill a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed.
(b) Division (A)(2)(a) of this section does not apply to the killing of a dog in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured.
(3) No person who has killed a dog that has bitten any person in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured shall fail to do both of the following:
(a) Immediately after the killing of the dog, notify the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred of the facts relative to the bite and the killing;
(b) Hold the body of the dog until that board of health claims it to perform tests for rabies.
(B) The quarantine period for a dog that has bitten any person shall be ten days or another period that the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred determines is necessary to observe the dog for rabies.
(C)(1) To enable persons to comply with the quarantine requirements specified in divisions (A) and (B) of this section, boards of health shall make provision for the quarantine of individual dogs under the circumstances described in those divisions.
(2) Upon the receipt of a notification pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section that a dog that has bitten any person has been killed, the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred shall claim the body of the dog from its killer and then perform tests on the body for rabies.
(D) This section does not apply to a police dog that has bitten a person while the police dog is under the care of a licensed veterinarian or has bitten a person while the police dog is being used for law enforcement, corrections, prison or jail security, or investigative purposes. If, after biting a person, a police dog exhibits any abnormal behavior, the law enforcement agency and the law enforcement officer the police dog assists, within a reasonable time after the person is bitten, shall make the police dog available for the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred to perform tests for rabies.
(E) As used in this section, "police dog" has the same meaning as in section 2921.321 of the Revised Code.

Structure Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Revised Code

Title 9 | Agriculture-Animals-Fences

Chapter 955 | Dogs

Section 955.01 | Registration of Dogs.

Section 955.011 | Registration for Guide, Leader, Hearing or Support Dogs to Be Free and Permanent.

Section 955.012 | Law Enforcement Canine Registration.

Section 955.013 | Registration of Dogs and Kennels via Internet.

Section 955.02 | Definition of "Dog Kennel" or "Kennel".

Section 955.03 | Dogs Are Personal Property.

Section 955.04 | Kennel Registration.

Section 955.05 | Registration of Dog or Dog Kennel During Year.

Section 955.06 | Registration Fee for Partial Year and Multiple Years.

Section 955.07 | Certificate of Registration - Record Kept by County Auditor.

Section 955.08 | Tags.

Section 955.09 | Period of Validity.

Section 955.10 | Tags to Be Worn.

Section 955.11 | Transfer of Ownership Certificate.

Section 955.12 | Dog Wardens.

Section 955.121 | Appointment of Sheriff as County Dog Warden.

Section 955.14 | Increasing Dog and Kennel Registration Fees.

Section 955.15 | Impounding Dogs.

Section 955.151 | Chemical Capture of Companion Animals.

Section 955.16 | Disposing of Impounded Dogs.

Section 955.17 | Costs - Fees.

Section 955.18 | Redemption of Dog.

Section 955.19 | Funds.

Section 955.20 | Dog and Kennel Fund.

Section 955.201 | Ohio Pet Fund - Sterilization Services.

Section 955.21 | Prohibition Against Failure to Register Dog Kennel.

Section 955.22 | Confining, Restraining, Debarking Dogs; Dangerous Dog Registration Certificate.

Section 955.221 | Local Ordinances or Resolutions Pertaining to Dog Control.

Section 955.222 | Hearings for Dog Designation.

Section 955.23 | Prohibition Against Failure of Duty by Dog Warden.

Section 955.24 | Prohibition Against Hindering the Capture of an Unregistered Dog.

Section 955.25 | Unlawful Tag.

Section 955.26 | Rabies Quarantine.

Section 955.261 | Duties After Dog Bites Person.

Section 955.27 | Disposition of Surplus Fund.

Section 955.28 | Dog May Be Killed for Certain Acts - Owner Liable for Damages.

Section 955.39 | Prohibition Against Violating a Rabies Quarantine.

Section 955.40 | Forfeiture.

Section 955.41 | Examination of Claim.

Section 955.42 | Reimbursement for Rabies Bite.

Section 955.43 | Dogs With Blind, Deaf or Mobility Impaired Person.

Section 955.44 | Fines Credited to Dog and Kennel Fund.

Section 955.50 | Sale and Transportation of Dogs.

Section 955.51 | Claims for Value of Animals Injured or Killed by Coyote.

Section 955.52 | Hearing on Claims for Value of Animals Injured or Killed by Coyote.

Section 955.53 | Claim Forms for Value of Animals Injured or Killed by Coyote.

Section 955.54 | Possession of Certain Dogs by Convicted Felons Prohibited.

Section 955.99 | Penalty.