Effective: March 31, 2021
Latest Legislation: House Bill 24 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) A county humane society organized under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code may appoint humane society agents for the purpose of prosecuting any person guilty of an act of cruelty to animals. Such agents may arrest any person found violating this chapter or any other law for protecting animals or preventing acts of cruelty thereto. Upon making an arrest, the humane society agent shall convey the person arrested before a court or magistrate having jurisdiction of the offense, and there make complaint against the person on oath or affirmation of the offense.
(B) A humane society agent that was appointed prior to the effective date of this amendment by a branch of the Ohio humane society is considered to be a humane society agent appointed under this section for purposes of this chapter and any other laws regarding humane society agents.
(C)(1) The appointment of an agent under this section is subject to the requirements of section 1717.061 of the Revised Code, and is not final until the appointment has been approved under division (C)(2) of this section.
(2) The appointment of an agent under this section does not take effect unless it has been approved by the mayor of the municipal corporation for which it is made. If the society operates outside a municipal corporation, the appointment does not take effect until it has been approved by the probate judge of the county for which it is made. The mayor or probate judge shall keep a record of the appointments and shall maintain as a public record a copy of the proof of successful completion of training for each humane society agent acting within the approving authority's jurisdiction.
(D) The approving authority shall notify the appropriate county sheriff and the board of county commissioners when the appointment of a humane society agent has been approved and, not later than two business days after the appointment has been approved, shall file a copy of the proof of successful completion of training with the sheriff. The county sheriff shall maintain as a public record a copy of the proof for each humane society agent that is operating in the county.
(E) A humane society shall notify the county sheriff and the approving authority when all approved humane society agents have ceased to perform the duties of the appointment and there are no humane society agents operating in the county.
(F) A humane society agent only has the specific authority granted to the agent under the Revised Code.