(A) As used in this section, “animal shelter” means a facility operated by a humane society or any society organized under Chapter 1717 of the Revised Code, a dog pound operated pursuant to Chapter 955 of the Revised Code, or a local animal shelter that is operated by any entity of local government.

Ask a business law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified business lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(B) No person shall destroy any domestic animal by the use of either of the following:

(1) A high altitude decompression chamber; or

(2) Any method other than a method that immediately and painlessly renders the domestic animal initially unconscious and subsequently dead.

(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, no animal shelter shall destroy a domestic animal by the use of a carbon monoxide gas chamber, carbon dioxide gas chamber, or any other nonanesthetic inhalant.

(2) An animal shelter may destroy a domestic animal by the use of a carbon monoxide gas chamber, carbon dioxide gas chamber, or any other nonanesthetic inhalant if the state veterinary medical licensing board, in consultation with the state board of pharmacy, declares that there is a shortage of approved lethal injection substances.

(D) This section does not apply to or prohibit the destruction of an animal under Chapter 941 of the Revised Code, the slaughtering of livestock under Chapter 945 of the Revised Code, or the taking of any wild animal, as defined in section 1531.01 of the Revised Code, when taken in accordance with Chapter 1533 of the Revised Code.

(E) This section does not apply to either of the following:

(1) The lawful practice of veterinary medicine by a person who has been issued a license, temporary permit, or registration certificate under Chapter 4741 of the Revised Code;

(2) An animal used in scientific research conducted by a research facility in accordance with the federal animal welfare act and related regulations. As used in division (E)(2) of this section, “federal animal welfare act” has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

(F) The offenses established under this section are strict liability offenses and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply. The designation of these offenses as strict liability offenses shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.