Bill Text: OH HB14 | 2011-2012 | 129th General Assembly | Enrolled
Bill Title: To remove pit bulls from the definition of "vicious dog" in state law, to establish a process by which owners, keepers, or harborers of dogs that have been designated as nuisance, dangerous, or vicious may appeal that designation, to define a "nuisance dog," to change the definitions of a "dangerous dog" and a "vicious dog," to require the owner of a dangerous dog to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate, to prohibit certain felons from owning dogs under certain conditions, and to change the penalties involving ownership of nuisance, dangerous, and vicious dogs.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 11-3)
Status: (Passed) 2012-05-22 - Effective Date [HB14 Detail]
Download: Ohio-2011-HB14-Enrolled.html
To amend sections 955.08, 955.11, 955.22, 955.99, 1901.18, and 1907.031 and to enact sections 955.222 and 955.54 of the Revised Code to remove pit bulls from the definition of "vicious dog" in state law, to establish a process by which owners, keepers, or harborers of dogs that have been designated as nuisance, dangerous, or vicious may appeal that designation, to define a "nuisance dog," to change the definitions of a "dangerous dog" and a "vicious dog," to require the owner of a dangerous dog to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate, to prohibit certain felons from owning dogs under certain conditions, and to change the penalties involving ownership of nuisance, dangerous, and vicious dogs.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
SECTION 1. That sections 955.08, 955.11, 955.22, 955.99, 1901.18, and 1907.031 be amended and sections 955.222 and 955.54 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 955.08. In addition to the certificate of registration
provided for by section 955.07 of the Revised Code, the county
auditor shall issue to every person making application for the
registration of a dog and paying the required fee therefor a metal
tag for each dog so registered. The form, character, and lettering
of the tag shall be prescribed by the county auditor. Each year
the tag shall be a color distinctive from that of the previous
year. If a tag is lost, a duplicate shall be furnished by the
auditor upon proper proof of loss and the payment of twenty-five
cents five dollars for each duplicate tag issued or payment of an
alternate fee for a duplicate tag, which the board of county
commissioners may establish in an amount not to exceed one dollar
and fifty cents.
Sec. 955.11. (A) As used in this section:
(1)(a) "Dangerous dog" means a dog that, without provocation,
and subject to division (A)(1)(b) of this section, has chased or
approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of
attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person,
while that dog is off the premises of its owner, keeper, or
harborer and not under the reasonable control of its owner,
keeper, harborer, or some other responsible person, or not
physically restrained or confined in a locked pen which has a top,
locked fenced yard, or other locked enclosure which has a top 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 division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code.
(b) "Dangerous dog" does not include a police dog that has
chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent
attitude of attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger
any person caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to
any person or has killed another dog while the police dog is being
used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the
performance of their official duties.
(2) "Menacing fashion" means that a dog would cause any person being chased or approached to reasonably believe that the dog will cause physical injury to that person.
(3)(a) Subject to division (A)(3)(b) of this section, "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.
(b) "Nuisance dog" does not include a police dog that while being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of official duties 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.
(4) "Police dog" means a dog that has been trained, and may be used, to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.
(4)(5) "Serious injury" means any of the following:
(a) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
(b) Any physical harm that involves a permanent incapacity, whether partial or total, or a temporary, substantial incapacity;
(c) Any physical harm that involves a permanent disfigurement or a temporary, serious disfigurement;
(d) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.
(6)(a) "Vicious dog" means a dog that, without provocation
and subject to division (A)(4)(6)(b) of this section, meets any of
the following:
(i) Has has killed or caused serious injury to any person;
(ii) Has caused injury, other than killing or serious injury,
to any person, or has killed another dog.
(iii) Belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull
dog. The ownership, keeping, or harboring of such a breed of dog
shall be prima-facie evidence of the ownership, keeping, or
harboring of a vicious dog.
(b) "Vicious dog" does not include either of the following:
(i) A police dog that has killed or caused serious injury to
any person or that has caused injury, other than killing or
serious injury, to any person while the police dog is being used
to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance
of their official duties;
(ii) A dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person while a person was committing or attempting to commit a trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog.
(5)(7) "Without provocation" means that a dog was not teased,
tormented, or abused by a person, or that the dog was not coming
to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in
illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a
means of carrying out such activity.
(B) Upon the transfer of ownership of any dog, the seller of
the dog shall give the buyer a transfer of ownership certificate
that shall be signed by the seller. The certificate shall contain
the registration number of the dog, the name of the seller, and a
brief description of the dog. Blank forms of the certificate may
be obtained from the county auditor. A transfer of ownership shall
be recorded by the auditor upon presentation of a transfer of
ownership certificate that is signed by the former owner of a dog
and that is accompanied by a fee of twenty-five cents five
dollars.
(C) Prior to the transfer of ownership or possession of any dog, upon the buyer's or other transferee's request, the seller or other transferor of the dog shall give to the person a written notice relative to the behavior and propensities of the dog.
(D) Within ten days after the transfer of ownership or
possession of any dog, if the seller or other transferor of the
dog has knowledge that the dog is a dangerous or vicious dog, he
the seller or other transferor shall give to the buyer or other
transferee, the board of health for the district in which the
buyer or other transferee resides, and the dog warden of the
county in which the buyer or other transferee resides, a completed
copy of a written form on which the seller shall furnish the
following information:
(1) The name and address of the buyer or other transferee of the dog;
(2) The age, sex, color, breed, and current registration number of the dog.
In addition, the seller shall answer the following questions, which shall be specifically stated on the form as follows:
"Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
"Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
"Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
The dog warden of the county in which the seller resides shall furnish the form to the seller at no cost.
(E) No seller or other transferor of a dog shall fail to comply with the applicable requirements of divisions (B) to (D) of this section.
Sec. 955.22. (A) As used in this section, "dangerous dog"
and "vicious dog" have has the same meanings meaning as in section
955.11 of the Revised Code.
(B) No owner, keeper, or harborer of any female dog shall permit it to go beyond the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer at any time the dog is in heat unless the dog is properly in leash.
(C) Except when a dog is lawfully engaged in hunting and accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the dog, no owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall fail at any time to do either of the following:
(1) Keep the dog physically confined or restrained upon the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer by a leash, tether, adequate fence, supervision, or secure enclosure to prevent escape;
(2) Keep the dog under the reasonable control of some person.
(D) Except when a dangerous or vicious dog is lawfully
engaged in hunting or training for the purpose of hunting and is
accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the dog,
no owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or vicious dog shall
fail to do either of the following:
(1) While that dog is on the premises of the owner, keeper,
or harborer, securely confine it at all times in a locked pen that
has a top, locked fenced yard, or other locked enclosure that has
a top, except that a dangerous dog may, in the alternative, be
tied with a leash or tether so that the dog is adequately
restrained;
(2) While that dog is off the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, keep that dog on a chain-link leash or tether that is not more than six feet in length and additionally do at least one of the following:
(a) Keep that dog in a locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard, or other locked enclosure that has a top;
(b) Have the leash or tether controlled by a person who is of suitable age and discretion or securely attach, tie, or affix the leash or tether to the ground or a stationary object or fixture so that the dog is adequately restrained and station such a person in close enough proximity to that dog so as to prevent it from causing injury to any person;
(c) Muzzle that dog.
(E) No person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to
three or more violations of division (C) of this section involving
the same dog and no owner, keeper, or harborer of a vicious
dangerous dog shall fail to obtain do the following:
(1) Obtain liability insurance with an insurer authorized to
write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in each
occurrence, subject to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs,
of not less than one hundred thousand dollars because of damage or
bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the
vicious
dangerous dog if so ordered by a court and provide proof of that
liability insurance upon request to any law enforcement officer,
county dog warden, or public health official charged with
enforcing this section;
(2) Obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate from the county auditor pursuant to division (I) of this section, affix a tag that identifies the dog as a dangerous dog to the dog's collar, and ensure that the dog wears the collar and tag at all times;
(3) Notify the local dog warden immediately if any of the following occurs:
(a) The dog is loose or unconfined.
(b) The dog bites a person, unless the dog is on the property of the owner of the dog, and the person who is bitten is unlawfully trespassing or committing a criminal act within the boundaries of that property.
(c) The dog attacks another animal while the dog is off the property of the owner of the dog.
(4) If the dog is sold, given to another person, or dies, notify the county auditor within ten days of the sale, transfer, or death.
(F) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Debark or surgically silence a dog that the person knows
or has reason to believe is a vicious dangerous dog;
(2) Possess a vicious dangerous dog if the person knows or
has reason to believe that the dog has been debarked or surgically
silenced;
(3) Falsely attest on a waiver form provided by the
veterinarian under division (G) of this section that the person's
dog is not a vicious dangerous dog or otherwise provide false
information on that written waiver form.
(G) Before a veterinarian debarks or surgically silences a
dog, the veterinarian may give the owner of the dog a written
waiver form that attests that the dog is not a
vicious dangerous
dog. The written waiver form shall include all of the following:
(1) The veterinarian's license number and current business address;
(2) The number of the license of the dog if the dog is licensed;
(3) A reasonable description of the age, coloring, and gender of the dog as well as any notable markings on the dog;
(4) The signature of the owner of the dog attesting that the
owner's dog is not a vicious dangerous dog;
(5) A statement that division (F) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code prohibits any person from doing any of the following:
(a) Debarking or surgically silencing a dog that the person
knows or has reason to believe is a vicious dangerous dog;
(b) Possessing a vicious dangerous dog if the person knows or
has reason to believe that the dog has been debarked or surgically
silenced;
(c) Falsely attesting on a waiver form provided by the
veterinarian under division (G) of section 955.22 of the Revised
Code that the person's dog is not a vicious dangerous dog or
otherwise provide false information on that written waiver form.
(H) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation
of division (F) of this section that the veterinarian who is
charged with the violation obtained, prior to debarking or
surgically silencing the dog, a written waiver form that complies
with division (G) of this section and that attests that the dog is
not a vicious dangerous dog.
(I)(1) The county auditor shall issue a dangerous dog registration certificate to a person who is the owner of a dog, who is eighteen years of age or older, and who provides the following to the county auditor:
(a) A fee of fifty dollars;
(b) The person's address, phone number, and other appropriate means for the local dog warden or county auditor to contact the person;
(c) With respect to the person and the dog for which the registration is sought, all of the following:
(i) Either satisfactory evidence of the dog's current rabies vaccination or a statement from a licensed veterinarian that a rabies vaccination is medically contraindicated for the dog;
(ii) Either satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog has been neutered or spayed or a statement from a licensed veterinarian that neutering or spaying of the dog is medically contraindicated;
(iii) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the person has posted and will continue to post clearly visible signs at the person's residence warning both minors and adults of the presence of a dangerous dog on the property;
(iv) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog has been permanently identified by means of a microchip and the dog's microchip number.
(2) Upon the issuance of a dangerous dog registration certificate to the owner of a dog, the county auditor shall provide the owner with a uniformly designed tag that identifies the animal as a dangerous dog. The owner shall renew the certificate annually for the same fee and in the same manner as the initial certificate was obtained. If a certificate holder relocates to a new county, the certificate holder shall follow the procedure in division (I)(3)(b) of this section and, upon the expiration of the certificate issued in the original county, shall renew the certificate in the new county.
(3)(a) If the owner of a dangerous dog for whom a registration certificate has previously been obtained relocates to a new address within the same county, the owner shall provide notice of the new address to the county auditor within ten days of relocating to the new address.
(b) If the owner of a dangerous dog for whom a registration certificate has previously been obtained relocates to a new address within another county, the owner shall do both of the following within ten days of relocating to the new address:
(i) Provide written notice of the new address and a copy of the original dangerous dog registration certificate to the county auditor of the new county;
(ii) Provide written notice of the new address to the county auditor of the county where the owner previously resided.
(4) The owner of a dangerous dog shall present the dangerous dog registration certificate upon being requested to do so by any law enforcement officer, dog warden, or public health official charged with enforcing this section.
(5) The fees collected pursuant to this division shall be deposited in the dog and kennel fund of the county.
Sec. 955.222. (A) The municipal court or county court that has territorial jurisdiction over the residence of the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog shall conduct any hearing concerning the designation of the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog.
(B) If a person who is authorized to enforce this chapter has reasonable cause to believe that a dog in the person's jurisdiction is a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, the person shall notify the owner, keeper, or harborer of that dog, by certified mail or in person, of both of the following:
(1) That the person has designated the dog a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable;
(2) That the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog may request a hearing regarding the designation in accordance with this section. The notice shall include instructions for filing a request for a hearing in the county in which the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer resides.
(C) If the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog disagrees with the designation of the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable, the owner, keeper, or harborer, not later than ten days after receiving notification of the designation, may request a hearing regarding the determination. The request for a hearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with the municipal court or county court that has territorial jurisdiction over the residence of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer. At the hearing, the person who designated the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog has the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the dog is a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog.
The owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog or the person who designated the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog may appeal the court's final determination as in any other case filed in that court.
(D) A court, upon motion of an owner, keeper, or harborer or an attorney representing the owner, keeper, or harborer, may order that the dog designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog be held in the possession of the owner, keeper, or harborer until the court makes a final determination under this section or during the pendency of an appeal, as applicable. Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions of division (D) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that apply to dangerous dogs regardless of whether the dog has been designated as a vicious dog or a nuisance dog rather than a dangerous dog. The owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog shall not be required to comply with any other requirements established in the Revised Code that concern a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable, until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal.
(E) If a dog is finally determined under this section, or on appeal as described in this section, to be a vicious dog, division (D) of section 955.11 and divisions (D) to (I) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog as if the dog were a dangerous dog, and section 955.54 of the Revised Code applies with respect to the dog as if it were a dangerous dog, and the court shall issue an order that specifies that those provisions apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper, or harborer in that manner. As part of the order, the court shall require the owner, keeper, or harborer to obtain the liability insurance required under division (E)(1) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code in an amount described in division (H)(2) of section 955.99 of the Revised Code.
(F) As used in this section, "nuisance dog," "dangerous dog," and "vicious dog" have the same meanings as in section 955.11 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 955.54. (A) No person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony offense of violence committed on or after the effective date of this section or a felony violation of any provision of Chapter 959., 2923., or 2925. of the Revised Code committed on or after the effective date of this section shall knowingly own, possess, have custody of, or reside in a residence with either of the following for a period of three years commencing either upon the date of release of the person from any period of incarceration imposed for the offense or violation or, if the person is not incarcerated for the offense or violation, upon the date of the person's final release from the other sanctions imposed for the offense or violation:
(1) An unspayed or unneutered dog older than twelve weeks of age;
(2) Any dog that has been determined to be a dangerous dog under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code.
(B) A person described in division (A) of this section shall microchip for permanent identification any dog owned, possessed by, or in the custody of the person.
(C)(1) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any person who is confined in a correctional institution of the department of rehabilitation and correction.
(2) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any person with respect to any dog that the person owned, possessed, had custody of, or resided in a residence with prior to the effective date of this section.
Sec. 955.99. (A)(1) Whoever violates division (E) of section 955.11 of the Revised Code because of a failure to comply with division (B) of that section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(2) Whoever violates division (E) of section 955.11 of the Revised Code because of a failure to comply with division (C) or (D) of that section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
(B) Whoever violates section 955.10, 955.23, 955.24, or 955.25 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(C) Whoever violates section 955.261, 955.39, or 955.50 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
(D) Whoever violates division (F) of section 955.16 or division (B) of section 955.43 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(E)(1) Whoever violates section 955.21 or of the Revised
Code, violates division (B) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code,
or commits a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the
Revised Code that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog,
dangerous dog, or vicious dog shall be fined not less than
twenty-five dollars or more than one hundred dollars on a first
offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less
than seventy-five dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars
and may be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
(2) In addition to the penalties prescribed in division (E)(1) of this section, if the offender is guilty of a violation of division (B) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code or a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.
(F) If (1) Whoever commits a violation of division (C) of
section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a nuisance dog is
guilty of a minor misdemeanor on the first offense and of a
misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense
involving the same dog. Upon a person being convicted of or
pleading guilty to a third violation of division (C) of section
955.22 of the Revised Code involving the same dog, the court shall
require the offender to register the involved dog as a dangerous
dog.
(2) In addition to the penalties prescribed in division (F)(1) of this section, if a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code involves a nuisance dog, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the nuisance dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.
(G) Whoever commits a violation of division (D)(C) of section
955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a dangerous dog, whoever
violates that division or a violation of division (D) of that
section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first
offense and of a misdemeanor of the third degree on each
subsequent offense. Additionally, the court may order the offender
to personally supervise the dangerous dog that the offender owns,
keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience
training, or to do both, and the court may order the offender to
obtain liability insurance pursuant to division (E) of section
955.22 of the Revised Code. The court, in the alternative, may
order the dangerous dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed
veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane society
at the owner's expense. With respect to a violation of division
(C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a
dangerous dog, until the court makes a final determination and
during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of that division
and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined
or restrained in accordance with division (D) of section 955.22 of
the Revised Code or at the county dog pound at the owner's
expense.
(G) If (H)(1) Whoever commits a violation of division (D)(C)
of section 955.22 of the Revised Code that involves a vicious dog,
whoever violates that division is guilty of one of the following:
(1)(a) A felony of the fourth degree on a first or subsequent
offense if the dog kills or seriously injures a person.
Additionally, the court shall order that the vicious dog be
humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the county dog
warden, or the county humane society at the owner's expense.
(2)(b) A misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense
and a felony of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense if
the dog causes serious injury to a person. Additionally, the court
may order the vicious dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed
veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane society.
(3) A misdemeanor of the first degree if the dog causes
injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person.
(H) at the owner's expense.
(2) If the court does not order the vicious dog to be destroyed under division (H)(1)(b) of this section, the court shall issue an order that specifies that division (D) of section 955.11 and divisions (D) to (I) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog as if the dog were a dangerous dog and that section 955.54 of the Revised Code applies with respect to the dog as if it were a dangerous dog. As part of the order, the court shall order the offender to obtain the liability insurance required under division (E)(1) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code in an amount, exclusive of interest and costs, that equals or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars. Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions described in division (D) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code or at the county dog pound at the owner's expense.
(I) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of section 955.01 or
division (E) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a
misdemeanor of the first degree.
(I)(J) Whoever violates division (E)(2) of section 955.22 of
the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(K) Whoever violates division (C) of section 955.221 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense. Fines levied and collected for violations of that division shall be distributed by the mayor or clerk of the municipal or county court in accordance with section 733.40, division (F) of section 1901.31, or division (C) of section 1907.20 of the Revised Code to the treasury of the county, township, or municipal corporation whose resolution or ordinance was violated.
(J)(L) Whoever violates division (F)(1), (2), or (3) of
section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the
fourth degree. Additionally, the court shall order that the
vicious dog involved in the violation be humanely destroyed by a
licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane
society.
Until the court makes a final determination and during
the pendency of any appeal of a violation of division (F)(1), (2),
or (3) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code and at the discretion
of the dog warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in
accordance with the provisions of division (D) of section 955.22
of the Revised Code or at the county dog pound at the owner's
expense.
(M) Whoever violates division (E)(1), (3), or (4) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(N) Whoever violates division (I)(4) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(O) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of section 955.54 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(P)(1) If a dog is confined at the county dog pound pursuant to division (G), (H), or (L) of this section, the county dog warden shall give written notice of the confinement to the owner of the dog. If the county dog warden is unable to give the notice to the owner of the dog, the county dog warden shall post the notice on the door of the residence of the owner of the dog or in another conspicuous place on the premises at which the dog was seized. The notice shall include a statement that a security in the amount of one hundred dollars is due to the county dog warden within ten days to secure payment of all reasonable expenses, including medical care and boarding of the dog for sixty days, expected to be incurred by the county dog pound in caring for the dog pending the determination. The county dog warden may draw from the security any actual costs incurred in caring for the dog.
(2) If the person ordered to post security under division (P)(1) of this section does not do so within ten days of the confinement of the animal, the dog is forfeited, and the county dog warden may determine the disposition of the dog unless the court issues an order that specifies otherwise.
(3) Not more than ten days after the court makes a final determination under division (G), (H), or (L) of this section, the county dog warden shall provide the owner of the dog with the actual cost of the confinement of the dog. If the county dog warden finds that the security provided under division (P)(1) of this section is less than the actual cost of confinement of the dog, the owner shall remit the difference between the security provided and the actual cost to the county dog warden within thirty days after the court's determination. If the county dog warden finds that the security provided under division (P)(1) of this section is greater than that actual cost, the county dog warden shall remit the difference between the security provided and the actual cost to the owner within thirty days after the court's determination.
(Q) As used in this section, "nuisance dog," "dangerous dog," and "vicious dog" have the same meanings as in section 955.11 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 1901.18. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this division or section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, subject to the monetary jurisdiction of municipal courts as set forth in section 1901.17 of the Revised Code, a municipal court has original jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:
(1) In any civil action, of whatever nature or remedy, of which judges of county courts have jurisdiction;
(2) In any action or proceeding at law for the recovery of money or personal property of which the court of common pleas has jurisdiction;
(3) In any action at law based on contract, to determine, preserve, and enforce all legal and equitable rights involved in the contract, to decree an accounting, reformation, or cancellation of the contract, and to hear and determine all legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete determination of the rights of the parties to the contract;
(4) In any action or proceeding for the sale of personal property under chattel mortgage, lien, encumbrance, or other charge, for the foreclosure and marshalling of liens on personal property of that nature, and for the rendering of personal judgment in the action or proceeding;
(5) In any action or proceeding to enforce the collection of its own judgments or the judgments rendered by any court within the territory to which the municipal court has succeeded, and to subject the interest of a judgment debtor in personal property to satisfy judgments enforceable by the municipal court;
(6) In any action or proceeding in the nature of interpleader;
(7) In any action of replevin;
(8) In any action of forcible entry and detainer;
(9) In any action concerning the issuance and enforcement of temporary protection orders pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code or protection orders pursuant to section 2903.213 of the Revised Code or the enforcement of protection orders issued by courts of another state, as defined in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code;
(10) If the municipal court has a housing or environmental division, in any action over which the division is given jurisdiction by section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, provided that, except as specified in division (B) of that section, no judge of the court other than the judge of the division shall hear or determine any action over which the division has jurisdiction;
(11) In any action brought pursuant to division (I) of section 3733.11 of the Revised Code, if the residential premises that are the subject of the action are located within the territorial jurisdiction of the court;
(12) In any civil action as described in division (B)(1) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code that relates to a public nuisance, and, to the extent any provision of this chapter conflicts or is inconsistent with a provision of that section, the provision of that section shall control in the civil action;
(13) In a proceeding brought pursuant to section 955.222 of the Revised Code by the owner of a dog that has been designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog.
(B) The Cleveland municipal court also shall have jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:
(1) In all actions and proceedings for the sale of real property under lien of a judgment of the municipal court or a lien for machinery, material, or fuel furnished or labor performed, irrespective of amount, and, in those actions and proceedings, the court may proceed to foreclose and marshal all liens and all vested or contingent rights, to appoint a receiver, and to render personal judgment irrespective of amount in favor of any party.
(2) In all actions for the foreclosure of a mortgage on real property given to secure the payment of money or the enforcement of a specific lien for money or other encumbrance or charge on real property, when the amount claimed by the plaintiff does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars and the real property is situated within the territory, and, in those actions, the court may proceed to foreclose all liens and all vested and contingent rights and may proceed to render judgments and make findings and orders between the parties in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar actions in the court of common pleas.
(3) In all actions for the recovery of real property situated within the territory to the same extent as courts of common pleas have jurisdiction;
(4) In all actions for injunction to prevent or terminate violations of the ordinances and regulations of the city of Cleveland enacted or promulgated under the police power of the city of Cleveland, pursuant to Section 3 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those actions, the court may proceed to render judgments and make findings and orders in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar actions in the court of common pleas.
Sec. 1907.031. (A) Except as otherwise provided in section 1907.03 of the Revised Code and in addition to the jurisdiction authorized in other sections of this chapter and in section 1909.11 of the Revised Code, a county court has original jurisdiction within its district in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:
(1) In an action or proceeding at law for the recovery of money or personal property of which the court of common pleas has jurisdiction;
(2) In an action at law based on contract, to determine, preserve, and enforce all legal and equitable rights involved in the contract, to decree an accounting, reformation, or cancellation of the contract, and to hear and determine all legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete determination of the rights of the parties to the contract;
(3) In an action or proceeding for the sale of personal property under chattel mortgage, lien, encumbrance, or other charge, for the foreclosure and marshalling of liens on the personal property, and for the rendering of personal judgment in the action or proceeding;
(4) In an action or proceeding to enforce the collection of its own judgments and to subject the interest of a judgment debtor in personal property to satisfy judgments enforceable by the county court;
(5) In an action or proceeding in the nature of interpleader;
(6) In an action of forcible entry and detainer;
(7) In a proceeding brought pursuant to section 955.222 of the Revised Code by the owner of a dog that has been designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog.
(B) A county court has original jurisdiction in civil actions as described in division (B)(1) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code that relate to a public nuisance. To the extent any provision of this chapter conflicts or is inconsistent with a provision of that section, the provision of that section shall control in such a civil action.
SECTION 2. That existing sections 955.08, 955.11, 955.22, 955.99, 1901.18, and 1907.031 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, an owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog who was required to comply with the requirements pertaining to a vicious dog prior to the effective date of this act shall be required to comply with the requirements pertaining to a dangerous dog on or after the effective date of this act.
(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to an owner, harborer, or keeper of a dog who was required, with respect to that dog, to comply with the requirements pertaining to a vicious dog prior to the effective date of this act solely because the dog belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.