Ohio § 959.161 Impounding and disposition of fighting dog

Ohio Statutes

§ 959.161 — Impounding and disposition of fighting dog

Ohio § 959.161

Title 9Agriculture-Animals-Fences

Ch. 959Offenses Relating To Domestic Animals

This text of Ohio § 959.161 (Impounding and disposition of fighting dog) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 959.161 (2026).

Text

(A)As used in this section:

(1)"Fighting dog" means a dog that a peace officer has probable cause to believe has been, is, or is intended to be used in dogfighting in violation of section959.16of the Revised Code.

(2)"Impounding entity" means the entity that has possession of an impounded fighting dog during its impoundment.

(3)"Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section2935.01of the Revised Code.

(4)"Violation" means a violation of section959.16of the Revised Code or an attempt, in violation of section2923.02of the Revised Code, to violate section959.16of the Revised Code.

(B)A peace officer may seize and cause to be impounded with an impounding entity a fighting dog that the peace officer has probable cause to believe is involved in a violation.

(C)A fightin

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(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Fighting dog" means a dog that a peace officer has probable cause to believe has been, is, or is intended to be used in dogfighting in violation of section959.16of the Revised Code.

(2) "Impounding entity" means the entity that has possession of an impounded fighting dog during its impoundment.

(3) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section2935.01of the Revised Code.

(4) "Violation" means a violation of section959.16of the Revised Code or an attempt, in violation of section2923.02of the Revised Code, to violate section959.16of the Revised Code.

(B) A peace officer may seize and cause to be impounded with an impounding entity a fighting dog that the peace officer has probable cause to believe is involved in a violation.

(C) A fighting dog that is seized under this section may be humanely destroyed under either of the following circumstances:

(1) During its seizure if it is necessary because the fighting dog is suffering;

(2) At any time during its impoundment if a licensed veterinarian determines it to be necessary because the fighting dog is suffering.

(D) Procedures, requirements, and other provisions that are established in divisions (C), (E), (F), and (G) of section959.132of the Revised Code shall apply to the seizure, impoundment, and disposition of a fighting dog. For purposes of that application, references in those divisions of section959.132of the Revised Code to "companion animal," "impounding agency," "officer," and "offense" shall be deemed to be replaced, respectively, with references to "fighting dog," "impounding entity," "peace officer," and "violation" as defined in this section. Likewise, references in those divisions of section959.132of the Revised Code to "section959.131of the Revised Code" shall be deemed to be replaced with references to section959.16of the Revised Code, as applicable.