The bill amends section 955.222 and enacts section 955.13 of the Revised Code to establish a mandatory 10-day quarantine period for dogs that injure, seriously injure, or kill a person. During this quarantine, a dog warden or law enforcement agency will investigate the incident to determine the dog's disposition. The investigation will lead to one of three outcomes: the dog may be deemed safe to remain in the community without further training, required to undergo training and rehabilitation, or determined to be a danger and humanely destroyed. If the latter two outcomes are determined, a court hearing will be held to finalize the decision regarding the dog's fate.

Additionally, the bill modifies the process for designating a dog as a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog, ensuring that any dog not humanely destroyed will be subject to a hearing in the appropriate court. The bill also clarifies that the costs associated with quarantine and any required training or rehabilitation will be the responsibility of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer. The existing section 955.222 is repealed, streamlining the legal framework surrounding dog attacks and their consequences.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 955.222