Owners, make sure dogs are wearing current tag

The Holmes County Dog Warden’s Department would like to inform the citizens of Holmes County that per Ohio Revised Code 955.10, all dog owners are required to have their dogs wear a current tag affiliated with its current county license. Once you purchase your dog’s current license, you must attach it to your dog’s collar.

ORC 955.10 says, “No owner of a dog, except a dog constantly confined to a dog kennel registered under this chapter or one licensed under Chapter 956 of the Revised Code, shall fail to require the dog to wear, at all times, a valid tag issued in connection with a certificate of registration. A dog found not wearing at any time a valid tag shall be prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and shall subject any dog found not wearing such a tag to impounding, sale or destruction."

In 2020 the Holmes County Dog Warden’s Department will crack down on dogs found not wearing a current license. This is primarily due to the large increase in the number of strays picked up and impounded that are not wearing current tags. The goal for the Holmes County Dog Warden’s Department is to reduce the number of strays taken in by the shelter and encourage responsible pet ownership.

In 2018 the Dog Warden’s Department picked up and impounded 242 stray dogs, and in 2019 the department impounded 314 stray dogs. Most of these dogs were not wearing a current license. A violation of this law is a minor misdemeanor, which means if you are cited, you could pay up to $150 and have to appear in court.

There are many benefits to your dog wearing a current tag. The most important is that it allows the office to get your dog back to you in as little time as possible, sometimes avoiding a trip to the shelter. Even a member of the public can return a dog to its owner by entering the license number on the Holmes County Auditor’s website or by calling with the license number. Although dogs are safe and well cared for at the shelter, the environment is stressful for them, and they may be exposed to disease and illness.

It is important to know if a dog is impounded while wearing its current tag. The law requires the shelter to hold the dog for 14 days before moving it out of the shelter via rescue or adoption. However, if a dog not wearing a current tag is impounded at the shelter, it can be sent to a rescue or adopted out just 72 hours later. To avoid euthanizing dogs for space reasons, the shelter moves dogs along as quickly as possible within the law.

All dog owners are encouraged to make sure a current tag is attached to their dog’s collar. The facility only has 14 available kennels, and the department would love to team up with the public to keep them as empty as possible. The Dog Warden’s Department would be happy to help attach tags and provide extra rings to keep tags attached. If a tag goes missing, a duplicate tag can be purchased from the Holmes County Auditor’s Office or the Dog Warden’s Department for a fee of $5.

For any question regarding the Ohio Revised Code, call the dog warden at 330-674-6301.