Ohio Rules for Impounded Dogs

Under Ohio law, any dog that is seized by a county dog warden must be kept, housed, and fed for at least three days.  This time period is meant to give the dog’s owner an opportunity to claim the dog.  There are exceptions to the three-day period, however.  If it is obvious that the dog has a disease or injury, the dog may be destroyed immediately.  If the dog is registered and the owner is unable to be contacted, then the dog will be held for fourteen days.

If the dog is not claimed within the applicable time period, there are several things that may happen.  First, the dog may be donated to a nonprofit organization that engages in the training of assistance dogs.  Second, the dog may be sold either to an individual or a nonprofit research organization that studies the prevention and treatment of diseases in humans and animals.    Lastly, if the dog cannot be disposed of in any other way, the dog may be humanely destroyed.

Impounded dogs that are sold to individuals must be registered and furnished with a valid registration tag prior to being discharged from the pound.  Also, research organizations that acquire impounded dogs are subject to inspections by the Ohio humane society to ensure that the dogs are not being mistreated.

 

For more information about rules and laws related to dogs, dog attacks and dog bites in Ohio, please visit dogbitesohio.com.

If you or someone you know has become the victim of a dog bite or dog attack anywhere in Ohio, please contact the Ohio law firm of Slater & Zurz LLP for a free consultation and a free case review by calling 1-888-321-0274 or send a message from the website at dogbitesohio.com.