Dog Bites
Dog Bites
The Wayne County Health Department regulates the Rabies Control Program for all of Wayne County. The goal of the program is to prevent human cases of rabies by investigating all reported animal bites and by vaccinating dogs against rabies. The Board of Health is charged with the enforcement authority of Ohio Administrative Code 3701-3-28, 3701-29 and 3701-3-30. These sections cover the quarantine, vaccination, and examination of animals involved in reported biting incidents. For more information on the Health Departments role in dog bites please visit their website at https://www.wayne-health.org/animal-bites.
Once a bite is reported to the Dog Warden's Office an investigation will take place that includes speaking with the dog owner, victim, and witnesses. The Dog Warden is responsible for determining if the dog should be deemed Dangerous or Vicious. The Dog Warden will also advise the dog owner of the 10-day quarantine procedure and inform the party of the next steps in the process. Once the quarantine is complete that dog must be examined by a veterinarian and issued a health certificate.
Ohio Law
955.261 (A)(1) No person shall remove a dog that has bitten any person from the county in which the bite occurred until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed. No person shall transfer a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed, except that a person may transfer the dog to the county dog warden or to any other animal control authority.
(2)(a) Subject to division (A)(2)(b) of this section, no person shall kill a dog that has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section has been completed.
(b) Division (A)(2)(a) of this section does not apply to the killing of a dog in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured.
(3) No person who has killed a dog that has bitten any person in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured shall fail to do both of the following:
(a) Immediately after the killing of the dog, notify the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred of the facts relative to the bite and the killing;
(b) Hold the body of the dog until that board of health claims it to perform tests for rabies.
(B) The quarantine period for a dog that has bitten any person shall be ten days or another period that the board of health for the district in which the bite occurred determines is necessary to observe the dog for rabies.
