OH HB552

Establishes requirements for chemical capture of companion animals by certified officers employed by animal shelters or county dog wardens, requiring a chemical capture classification from the state board of pharmacy and compliance with approved anesthetic drugs.

Prohibits destruction of domestic animals using high altitude decompression chambers or gas chambers (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or other nonanesthetic inhalants), except during declared shortages of approved lethal injection substances.

Requires animal shelter and county dog warden employees (except registered veterinary technicians) to complete a state board-approved euthanasia technician certification course of at least 16 hours before performing lethal injection euthanasia or administering pre-euthanasia anesthesia drugs.

Specifies that lethal injection euthanasia must use only combination drugs containing pentobarbital and noncontrolled substances approved by the state veterinary medical licensing board and state board of pharmacy, administered through intravenous, intraperitoneal, intracardial (on unconscious animals only), or oral methods.

Grants civil immunity to certified officers performing chemical capture within their scope of employment in compliance with established rules and makes violation of chemical capture restrictions a first-degree misdemeanor.