Effective: April 15, 2005
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 202 - 125th General Assembly
(A) As used in sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code:
(1) "Animal" means a horse, mule, sheep, head of cattle, swine, goat, domestic rabbit, or domestic fowl or poultry.
(2) "Fair market value" means the average price that is paid for a healthy grade animal at a livestock auction selected by the director of agriculture and licensed under Chapter 943. of the Revised Code.
(3) "Grade animal" means an animal that is not eligible for registration by a breed association or in a registry.
(4) "Predator" means a coyote or a black vulture.
(B) An owner of an animal that has been injured or killed by a predator and that the owner believes has a fair market value of more than twenty-five dollars shall do both of the following within seventy-two hours after the loss or injury has been discovered:
(1) Notify the dog warden by telephone;
(2) Document by photograph the wounds sustained by the animal.
If the owner chooses to file a claim under sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code, the owner shall complete a claim form for indemnification in quadruplicate as prescribed by the director in section 955.53 of the Revised Code and provided by the dog warden. The owner may request, and the dog warden shall provide, assistance in filling out the form. For the purposes of section 955.52 of the Revised Code, the owner shall send to the department of agriculture, within thirty days after discovery of the animal, the original copy of the claim form, all photographs documenting the wounds of the animal, and any other pertinent facts in the possession of the owner.
If the animal that is killed or injured is registered by an accepted association or in an accepted registry, the owner shall submit with the claim form that is filed with the department the registration papers showing the animal's lines of breeding, age, and other relevant information. If the animal is the offspring of registered stock and is eligible for registration, the registration papers showing the lines of breeding of the offspring shall be submitted as well.
The owner shall retain a copy of the claim form and provide a copy of the form to both the dog warden and the wildlife officer who investigates the claim, if applicable.
(C) Following notification from the owner of an animal under division (B) of this section, the dog warden promptly shall investigate the loss or injury and shall determine whether or not the loss or injury was made by a predator. If the dog warden determines that the loss or injury was not made by a predator, the owner has no claim under sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code. If the dog warden determines that the loss or injury was made by a predator, the dog warden promptly shall notify by telephone the wildlife officer of that determination. For the purposes of section 955.52 of the Revised Code, the dog warden shall send to the department the dog warden's determination of whether the animal was killed or injured by a predator and any other documents, testimony, or information that the dog warden has received relating to the loss or injury of the animal.
(D) Following notification from the dog warden under division (C) of this section, the wildlife officer shall confirm the determination of the dog warden on the claim, disaffirm it, or state that the wildlife officer is uncertain about the determination. If the wildlife officer disaffirms the determination of the dog warden, the owner has no claim under sections 955.51 to 955.53 of the Revised Code. If the wildlife officer affirms the determination of the dog warden or states that the wildlife officer is uncertain about that determination, the wildlife officer shall so notify in writing the department for the purposes of section 955.52 of the Revised Code.
Structure Ohio Revised Code
Title 9 | Agriculture-Animals-Fences
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 955.09 | Period of Validity.
Section 955.10 | Tags to Be Worn.
Section 955.11 | Transfer of Ownership Certificate.
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 955.20 | 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 955.41 | 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.