Ohio General Assembly considers new legislation dealing with dangerous dogs irresponsible owners

As we noted when we reprinted the USA Today Ohio News Network series “VICIOUS: An investigation into how Ohio laws fail thousands of dog attack victims,” the laws related to dog bites and attacks and are woefully inadequate and put us all at risk of suffering the types of debilitating, disfiguring injuries sustained by 11-year-old Avery Russel who was attacked by two pit bulls.  During the attack the dogs chewed off most of Avery’s ears, ripped into her nose, left a huge gouge above her left eye and punctured her forehead and shoulder. Her face, one doctor said, looked like ground hamburger.

Despite all the damage, the dogs’ owners face only misdemeanor charges.

Fortunately, some member of the Ohio General Assembly are taking action. According to the following report from the Gongwer Statehouse News Service, three bills designed to strengthen Ohio’s dog attack laws have just been introduced in the Ohio House. One, HB 240 which is sponsored by Rep. Meredith Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg), is named “Avery’s Law.”  In addition to the three bills already in the hopper, State Rep. Phil Plummer of Dayton plans to introduce a fourth in the near future.

We’ll provide updates as the legislation makes its way through the Gneral Assembly and, when the time comes, we’ll ask our readers to contact our state reps and senators and urge them to support the bills. We want to commend the sponsors of the legislation for taking positive steps to protect our families–especially our children–and hold irresponsible owners accountable for their actions. Here’s the Gongwer report:

Dangerous dogs were a topic of discussion for a House panel Tuesday.

The House Public Safety Committee Track fielded testimony on three bills addressing the issue.

One measure redefines what constitutes a nuisance, dangerous and vicious dog (HB 247 Track).

Sponsoring Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) said the need for the bill was brought to his attention by the dog warden of Licking County.

He explained that the changes in law in his bill pertain only to unprovoked attacks.

“Dogs that act in defense of themselves, their owners, or their property are explicitly protected under this bill. The intent is not to punish responsible owners or protective dogs,” he said. “Conversely this legislation aims to address cases of negligence where irresponsible owners of dangerous and vicious dogs fail to keep their animals from harming the public.”

Miller told the panel the bill provides the local dog warden the power to seize a dog immediately following an attack in which a victim is killed or seriously injured.

He said it will also hold irresponsible dog owners accountable when they fail to control dogs already designated as dangerous or vicious.

“Penalties for these individuals have been increased to better reflect the seriousness of their negligence,” he said. “Basically, these individuals have previously been put on notice they possess an extremely malicious animal but continue to fail to ensure the safety of the public. This is simply not acceptable. In the most severe cases of a serious injury or death, the penalty will raise from a felony of the fourth to a third-degree felony.”

After Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) revealed that he was attacked by two German Shepherds last year while campaigning, Rep. Juantia Brent (D-Cleveland) questioned whether the bill would cover his situation since he was on someone else’s property.

Miller said it would require a probable cause hearing to determine whether the attack was unprovoked.

The other bills are sponsored by Rep. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) and Rep. Meredith Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg).

One (HB 240 Track) was inspired by a 2024 dog attack in Reynoldsburg that left a 12-year-old severely injured.

Lawson-Rowe told the panel the two pit bulls had attacked before, but their owner failed to report the previous incident.

Among the changes in the bill, it would require an owner to report an attack within 24 hours.

“Cities across the state have created ordinances regulating dogs and increasing penalties for owners of dogs who attack or even kill humans and other animals. It’s time that we as a state do the same,” she said. “Again, it is our hope that we can use House Bill 240, Avery’s Law, to strengthen our dog laws statewide and to give families who go through these tragic incidents, adequate legal recourse.”

Thomas said the bill will help to ensure that repeat-offender dogs and negligent owners can no longer slip through the legal cracks.

“Importantly, this legislation does not target any one breed. It targets behavior – and the responsibility of those who own dogs,” he said. “Responsible dog owners who properly train, contain, and care for their pets will have nothing to fear under this bill. But those who neglect or conceal their dog’s violent history must be held to account – because the cost of doing nothing is simply too high.”

Their other piece of legislation requires a dog to be held for a 10-day quarantine period following an attack in which the dog injures, seriously injures or kills a person and mandates a court hearing to determine the animal’s disposition (HB 241 Track).

Thomas said that after a recent dog attack in his district, the animal was allowed to remain in its home under current state law.

“Ten days later, nothing had changed,” he said. “The owners were under no legal obligation to surrender the dogs. The victims, meanwhile, were left to live in fear.”

Lawson-Rowe echoed that sentiment.

“Victims and families of victims should not have to worry about a dog who has attacked already being left at home to possibly attack again,” she said. “This bill would close this loophole and would create due process for all parties involved.”

Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Middletown) asked why there are three separate bills addressing the same issue.

“We are all attempting to accomplish the same effort here,” Thomas responded.

Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) noted he is working on a fourth, more expansive bill that would touch on other areas of animal care.