Ohio Dog Breeding Laws

Because of lax dog breeding laws, Ohio has a large population of puppy mills and unwanted shelter dogs. Efforts are ongoing to change laws on kennels and mills to cut down on the amount of homeless pets.

  1. Kennel Ownership

    • Ohio law defines a kennel as any person, business or partnership involved in the participation of breeding for sale or for hunting. Dogs owned by kennels are considered property. Registration fees are paid to county auditors per kennel and determined by the number of dogs residing at the kennel. Numbers are assigned to each incoming dog, which are engraved on tags. The color of the tags changes each year.

    Registered Stock

    • Dogs are considered livestock in Ohio and it is legal for breeders to sell dogs at auctions in the same manner as other livestock. Registration papers need to show the dog's lineage and age, and other relevant information such as disease history or offspring.

    SB 95

    • Ohio SB 95 is a bill passed by the Senate that has come under criticism for encouraging irresponsible breeding in Ohio. This bill is colloquially known as the "puppy mill bill," with the intent to establish better standards of care for dogs in breeding facilities. The bill requires breeders to size crates and cages based on the weight of the dog rather than the height of the dog. Opposition to this bill claims this will result in dogs not having enough space. Another standard of care maintains that high volume breeders must keep kennels at temperatures between 50 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The bill does not establish any laws regarding the transport of bred dogs.