H.B. No. 352 Summary

• Revises Ohio's Dogs Law by reorganizing and clarifying definitions of "nuisance dog," "dangerous dog," and "vicious dog," with updated criteria for each classification and their associated confinement requirements

• Establishes a new dangerous dog registration system requiring owners to register dangerous dogs with county dog wardens within 30 days of designation, obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000, and provide proof of rabies vaccination, spaying/neutering, microchipping, and warning signs

• Creates a notification process requiring enforcement officers to notify dog owners of complaints regarding their dogs by posting notices on their residences and requiring owners to respond within 48 hours; failure to respond results in fines of $25 to $40

• Increases penalties for violations including dangerous dog confinement requirements, raising some from misdemeanor to felony charges, and mandates humanely destroying vicious dogs that kill or cause serious injury to persons

• Prohibits debarking or surgically silencing dangerous dogs and allows veterinarians to provide waiver forms attesting dogs are not dangerous before performing these procedures