DOG WARDEN'S OFFICE

ANIMAL CLAIM

Steps to Follow

1. Claimant must notify the Dog Warden or a Commissioner as soon as possible, but within 72 hours of discovery of the loss or injury. This can be done by calling the Courthouse at 373-6623 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also call the Washington County Sheriff's Department after those hours and on weekends.
2. Do not dispose of the evidence, as the Dog Warden must investigate the claim.
3. An animal claim form will be completed by the claimant in duplicate.
4. If animal(s), fowl, or poultry is registered, the registration papers shall be submitted with the claim.
5. If claimant was the owner or harborer of an unregistered or unlicensed dog, no recovery from the Dog and Kennel Fund is allowable.
6. If claimant's licensed dog(s) caused, in whole or in part, the damage, the dog(s) must be destroyed within 48 hours from discovery of the loss or injury or no recovery is allowable.
7. A fetus loss caused by a dog(s) shall be an allowable claim. However, the Dog Warden, as part of his investigation, may request the Chief of the Division of Animal Industry to have a state veterinarian certify the cause of death.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR
COMPLAINT ON DOG AT LARGE
OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 955.22 (C)

On a first time encounter, a written warning will be given to the dog owner concerning their dog running at large. A copy of the rules and regulations will be given and the situation will be explained to the owner. A license check will be made and dealt with in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 955.21.

On a second encounter with a dog running at large, if evidence provides, it will be considered a violation of Section 955.22 (C) of the Ohio Revised Code and will be dealt with accordingly.

At no time will the name of a person filing the complaint be given out, unless it is a second complaint on the same dog, a signed statement has been taken, and a citation is issued.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR
VIOLATORS OF NO DOG LICENSE
OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 955.21

Anyone found to be in violation of Section 955.21 of the Ohio Revised Code will be cited and pay penalties regulated under Section 955.99(E)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code. A tag will be sold at that time and a penalty, equal to the amount of the tag, will be charged. If the tag cannot be purchased at that time, a 72 hour written notice will be given. This notice should be taken to the County Auditor's office for the purchase of the license and the penalty. A copy of the rules and regulations will also be given to the violator and any questions answered concerning the situation.

(A) Biting Dog

(1) Whenever it is reported to the Health Commissioner of a health district that any dog has bitten a person, that dog shall be quarantined under an order issued by the Health Commissioner of the health district in which the bite was inflicted. The dog shall be quarantined by its owner or harborer, or shall be quarantined in a pound or kennel. In all cases, said quarantine shall be under the supervision of the Health Commissioner and shall be the expense of the owner or harborer. Quarantine shall continue until the Health Commissioner of the health district in which the bite was inflicted determines that the dog is not afflicted with rabies. The quarantine period hereby required shall not be less than ten days from the date on which the person was bitten. If at any time during the quarantine, the Health Commissioner requires the dog to be examined for symptoms of rabies, then the examination shall be by a licensed doctor of veterinarian medicine. The veterinarian shall report to the Health Commissioner the conclusions reached as a result of the examinations. The examination by the veterinarian shall be at the expense of the owner or harborer. No dog shall be released from the required quarantine unless and until it has been properly vaccinated against rabies.

(2) If any quarantined dog dies before the quarantine period expires, then the head of the dog shall be submitted to the Ohio Department of Health Laboratories for rabies examination.

(3) If the owner or harborer of the dog is unknown, the Health Commissioner may direct that the dog be killed in which case the head of the dog shall be submitted to the Ohio Department of Health Laboratories for rabies examination.

(B) Other Biting Animals.

Whenever it is reported to the Health Commissioner of the health district that any other animal that is commonly known to transmit rabies has bitten a person, the Health Commissioner at his or her discretion may direct the immediate killing of said animal by a suitable humane method. The head of said animal shall then be submitted to the Ohio Department of Health Laboratories for rabies examination.

AS AMENDED EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 21, 1981 Ohio Revised Code 3701-3-29

955.28 Dog May Be Killed For Certain Acts; Owner Liable For Damages

(A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of Section 955.261 of the Ohio 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 that chases, injures, or kills livestock, poultry, other domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed at the time of that chasing, approaching attempt, killing, or injury. If, in attempting to kill such a dog, a person wounds it, he is not liable to prosecution under the penal laws which punish cruelty to animals.

(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog. Unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time, was committing or attempting to commit a trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, keeper or harborer, or was committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense against any person, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner's, keeper's, or harborer's property.

Washinagton County Dog Warden
205 Putnam Street
Marietta, Ohio 45750
Phone: (740) 373-6623 Ext.204
Fax: (740) 373-2200

©2006 Washington County
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED