04/02/2026
Avery's Law
Familiarize yourself with Avery's Law, which is now in effect. It applies to dog owners, kennels, rescues, and shelters. In some ways, even protects your dog if she/he has behavoiral issues so you will Keep! Them! Contained! Applies to rehoming too. If you have a dog that bites, don't pass off the problem to someone else-you're liable if you don't disclose the issues. Either hire a trainer, make sure there's not a medical reason, or, consider BE if necessary. With all the backyard/inbreeding/unknown history/cases of abuse/lack of training/...... some dogs just truly, are going to struggle with behavior. It's a sad fact.
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Avery’s Law Went into Effect Two Weeks Ago
What Ohio Dog Owners and Potential Bite Victims Need to Know
A sweeping overhaul of Ohio’s dog laws, known as "Avery’s Law" (House Bill 247), officially went into effect on March 18, 2026. Named in honor of Avery Russell, a Reynoldsburg girl who was severely injured in a 2024 attack, the legislation aims to close legal loopholes that previously allowed dangerous animals to remain in communities.
From mandatory insurance to swifter seizure powers, the legal landscape for pet ownership in the Buckeye State has shifted significantly. Here is your guide to navigating the new rules.
For Dog Owners: Your New Responsibilities
The law isn't just for those with "aggressive" breeds; it applies to all owners, but it creates a strict three-tier classification system for dogs that exhibit problematic behavior: Nuisance, Dangerous, and Vicious.
Mandatory Insurance: If your dog is formally designated as "dangerous" or "vicious," you are now legally required to carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Failure to provide proof of this insurance to a dog warden or police officer is a criminal offense.
Containment Rules: Owners must keep designated dogs physically confined or restrained at all times. This means secure fencing, tethers, or leashes. "He just stays in the yard" is no longer a valid legal defense if the dog escapes.
Criminal Liability: For the first time, owners can face significant criminal penalties if they negligently fail to restrain a dog that then attacks someone without provocation.
The "Harborer" Clause: If you are a dog sitter, trainer, or kennel owner, you are considered a "harborer" or "keeper." Under Avery’s Law, you share the same legal responsibility for containment and can be held criminally liable if the dog in your care attacks.
If an Attack Occurs:
The Victim’s Perspective
For those who suffer a dog bite, the new law prioritizes immediate safety and clear paths to accountability.
Immediate Seizure: Unlike the old law, which often left dangerous dogs in the home during long legal battles, dog wardens now have the authority to seize a dog immediately following a serious unprovoked attack.
Mandatory Reporting: Health care providers and veterinarians are now required to report dog bites to local authorities, ensuring a paper trail exists for every incident.
Strict Liability: Victims can still pursue civil compensation even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. The new law makes it easier to prove negligence if the owner failed to meet the new containment standards.
What’s Different?
Before Avery’s Law, Ohio’s regulations were often described as "outdated and inadequate."
Old Law vs. Avery’s Law (HB 247)
Seizure Power:
The old law often required a lengthy court process.
Under Avery's Law, wardens can seize a dog immediately after an attack.
Insurance Discretionary:
Could be ordered by a judge under old law.
Avery's Law makes it mandatory $100,000 for dangerous/vicious dogs.
Euthanasia
Before it was left to judicial discretion.
Now it's mandatory if a dog kills or seriously injures a person (after due process).
Owner Penalties
Owners could escape accountability and mostly receive minor fines or civil cases under the old law.
Now there increased criminal penalties for negligence even with a single incident.
Why the Change?
Supporters, led by State Representative Kevin Miller (R-Newark), argue the law is a common-sense approach to public safety. By removing "judicial discretion" in the most extreme cases, the law ensures that a dog that has proven to be a lethal threat cannot be returned to a neighborhood where it might strike again. It shifts the burden of responsibility from the victim to the owner, incentivizing responsible containment.
The Voice of Opposition
Despite the focus on safety, the law has faced pushback from animal welfare advocates and some county dog wardens.
Concerns over "Mandatory Death": Cindi Yanez, Harrison County dog warden, warns that the loss of judicial discretion could lead to "killing dogs left and right." Critics argue that every incident is unique—sometimes an "attack" is a result of a dog being startled, in pain, or acting out of fear rather than true aggression.
The Resource Gap:
Opponents also point out that the law grants wardens more power but provides no new state funding. Shelters are already overcrowded, and the mandate to seize and hold more dogs for longer periods could bankrupt local animal control budgets.
There is also fear of "legal repercussions" for shelters if they are forced to euthanize a dog that a behaviorist believes could have been rehabilitated.
Bottom Line
If you own a dog in Ohio, the era of "one free bite" is effectively over. The state now expects total control of your pet, backed by the threat of criminal charges and mandatory euthanasia for the animal if things go wrong.
