03/05/2026
OHIO DOG OWNERS – PLEASE READ
Avery’s Law goes into effect March 18, 2026. It brings significant changes to Ohio’s dog laws.
If you own a dog, this matters to you.
The definition of a “dangerous dog” has expanded. In certain situations, a dog can now be designated dangerous without a traditional bite. Serious injury to a person, serious injury or death of another dog, repeated nuisance violations, and other incidents can trigger legal consequences. Some violations are now strict liability, meaning intent or lack of prior history may not matter.
There is also increased liability not only for owners, but for anyone considered a “keeper” or “harborer” of a dog. That can include shelters, boarding facilities, groomers, trainers, and anyone temporarily caring for a dog. That also includes members of the public who find a stray and choose to hold onto that dog, even short term.
For pet owners, this means:
• Secure containment matters more than ever
• Licensing and compliance matter
• Past behavior must be disclosed to service providers
• A single serious unprovoked incident can carry major consequences
From the shelter side, here is what you can expect:
• We will be asking detailed behavioral and history questions of anyone surrendering a dog or bringing in a stray, including individuals claiming to have found a stray
• We will be documenting all answers thoroughly
• We will require signatures acknowledging disclosures
• We will require a valid photo ID when surrendering a dog or bringing in a stray
If we tell you that a dog is not safe for us to adopt out, that decision is based on liability, public safety, and ethics. Under this new law, placing a dog with known dangerous behaviors can have serious consequences for adopters, our organization, and the individuals involved.
As a rule, we do not adopt out dogs who cannot live safely with other dogs, dogs with a known bite history, or dogs who we believe will pose a danger to an adopter, other pets or the community. We believe that is the responsible and ethical thing to do, and we will continue to operate in that manner.
We also have a responsibility to protect our staff, our volunteers, our adopters, and our organization so that we can continue serving this community and the dogs who depend on us. Making responsible decisions today ensures we are still here tomorrow.
If you have specific legal questions about how this law affects you or your business, please contact an attorney or your insurance provider. This post is not legal advice. Information has been gathered from publicly available sources, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research. We will not be answering legal questions in the comments.
Our goal remains the same: responsible ownership, thoughtful placements, and the safest possible outcomes for both people and pets.
