Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 955
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 955.261 (2026)

Duties after dog bites person

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Effective:
March 20, 2026
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 247 - 136th General Assembly
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(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) Whoever recklessly violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.

Last updated January 16, 2026 at 8:30 AM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2004–2021 · leading case: State v. Cowan, 814 N.E.2d 846 (Ohio 2004).
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State v. Cowan, 814 N.E.2d 846 (Ohio 2004). “Well, she needed to be advised of [the] quarantine [imposed by R.C. 955.261], double-cheek that the dogs were confined, check to see if the dogs had rabies shots, advised of the vicious dog law.”
State v. Fishburn, 2021-Ohio-2303. · cites it 2× “2020 CA 00145 10 (A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of section 955.261 of the Revised Code, a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, that attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, * * * can be killed at the time of that…”
Lucas Cty. Pit Crew v. Fulton Cty. Dog Warden, 2016-Ohio-8526, 79 N.E.3d 1244. “Bosco was to be placed in quarantine for 10 days pursuant to R.C. 955.261(B), but appellant had possession until the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant to gain access to Bosco.”
State v. Hall, 2018-Ohio-2335. · cites it 2× “2017 AP 11 0031 7 (A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of section 955.261 of the Revised Code, a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, that attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, or that kills or injures a person or a dog…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 955.261(B): 1 case
Lucas Cty. Pit Crew v. Fulton Cty. Dog Warden, 2016-Ohio-8526, 79 N.E.3d 1244. “Bosco was to be placed in quarantine for 10 days pursuant to R.C. 955.261(B), but appellant had possession until the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant to gain access to Bosco.”
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