OH: Ohio
Summary: Ohio has strong penalties with mandatory restitution covering vet, retraining and replacement costs (ORC 2921.321), a $1 handler purchase right for retired or disabled police dogs and horses (ORC 9.62, from 1998) and EMS care and transport for dogs and cats (ORC 4765.52, HB 392, effective 2023). There's no vest law and no retired care fund.
Body armor
- None found.
Medical & insurance
- ORC 4765.52, Emergency medical attention to dog or cat. (B) First responders, EMTs and paramedics responding to an emergency, fire or law enforcement call may give listed care to a dog or cat before handing it to a vet: airway, ventilation, oxygen, bleeding control, splinting, bandaging, and an overdose reversal drug under a vet protocol. They're limited to skills they're licensed to use on people. (C) An ambulance may transport a police dog injured in the line of duty to a vet when no human needs emergency transport. (D) to (E) Responders and EMS organizations are protected from criminal, disciplinary and civil liability except for willful or wanton misconduct. (F) Vets may write protocols for EMS. History: enacted by HB 187 (131st GA), effective Aug. 31, 2016, for dog and cat care. Amended by HB 392 and HB 193 (134th GA), effective Apr. 3, 2023, which added police dog ambulance transport. The correct citation is 4765.52. MED-TAC's 'ยง 4765.36' is wrong: 4765.36 covers EMTs working inside hospitals (verified on codes.ohio.gov).
- Restitution: ORC 2921.321 requires the offender to pay vet and medication costs, damaged equipment, retraining and replacement.
Retirement & service limits
- ORC 9.62, Purchase of police dog or horse (HB 219, 122nd GA, eff. June 1, 1998). If a K9 or mounted unit disbands, the assigned officer gets first chance to buy the animal for $1. If the animal is injured on duty, disabled, unfit or too old, the officer may buy it for $1 and takes on all responsibility for it. An officer who leaves the unit while the animal is still fit forfeits the right.
- There's no age or service cap.
Post retirement care
- None found. Under 9.62 the buyer "shall assume all responsibility," which leaves handlers with the costs. Local 12 in Cincinnati has covered handlers paying cancer bills themselves.
Penalties for harming police animals
- ORC 2921.321, Assaulting a police dog or horse (also covers assistance dogs).
- Basic offense: second degree misdemeanor.
- Physical harm: first degree misdemeanor.
- Serious physical harm: fourth degree felony.
- Death: third degree felony, with mandatory prison and a mandatory fine paid to the agency.
- Plus restitution as above. Current version effective Mar. 20, 2026.
Pending or failed bills
- No retired-K9 care fund bill was found in the 135th or 136th GA.
Sources
- ORC 9.62: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-9.62
- ORC 2921.321: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2921.321 (PDF: https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/revised-code/authenticated/29/2921/2921.321/3-20-2026/2921.321-3-20-2026.pdf)
- ORC 4765.52: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4765.52 (and 4765.36, checked as unrelated: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4765.36)
- HB 392 (134th): https://ohiohouse.gov/legislation/134/hb392
- Statehouse News Bureau: https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2021-12-30/ohio-bill-would-make-it-legal-to-transport-injured-police-dogs-in-ambulances
- HB 247 (136th): https://ohiohouse.gov/legislation/136/hb247/status
- HB 396 (135th): https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/135/hb396 ; NBC4: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/politics/narcotics-k-9s-that-smell-marijuana-in-ohio-will-need-to-retire-a-proposal-would-help-police-forces-foot-the-bill/
- Local 12 (handler costs): https://local12.com/news/local/police-dog-k9-retired-cancer-healthcare-handler-responsible-north-college-hill-pd-officer-retiree-jay-manning-partner-onil-medical-bills-expenses-spleen-help-assistance-gofundme-fundraiser-health-insurance-cincinnati-ohio