Vicious/Dangerous/Nuisance Dog Act (ORC 955.22) - No owner, keeper or harborer of a dog shall negligently fail to prevent the dog from committing any of the acts listed below.

Nuisance Dog – Any dog that without provocation and while off the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer has chased or approached a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack; has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack; caused injury to any person without making physical contact in either a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; chased, threatened, harassed, or injured another dog or livestock in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack; been the subject of a third or subsequent violation of section 955.21.

Dangerous Dog – Any dog without provocation that has caused injury by physical contact, other than killing or serious injury, to any person in either a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; caused serious injury to any person without making physical contact in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack; killed another dog or livestock; caused serious injury to another dog or livestock that results in euthanasia of the animal by a person authorized to perform euthanasia under Ohio law.

Vicious Dog – Any dog without provocation that has killed a person; caused serious injury to any person by physical contact; engages in a dangerous dog act after the dog has been designated dangerous.

• Effective May 22, 2012, state law no longer defines “breed of dog commonly known as a pit bull” as vicious. Any dog may be designated as nuisance, dangerous or vicious based on its actions.

ORC 955.24 - Dangerous/Vicious dog requirements

• Dangerous dog licenses can only be obtained from the Fairfield County Auditor’s office located at 210 East Main St, Suite 206, Lancaster, OH 43130.