COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — There’s a bipartisan push at the statehouse to strengthen nuisance, dangerous, and vicious dog laws in Ohio. House Bill 247 is one of several legislative efforts aimed at tightening laws on dogs that are deemed a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious.
Under the proposed legislation, dog owners could face criminal charges if they negligently allow their dogs to attack someone, even if the dog has no prior history of aggression. Owners would also be required to register their vicious dogs with the county dog warden, while meeting specific microchipping, warning sign, and liability insurance requirements.
A key component of the bill would allow dog wardens to immediately seize a dog after an attack.
“And then you’d petition the court and you would have to have a hearing in front of the judge,” Larry Williams said to ABC 6, Chief Dog Warden of Licking County. “Whereas currently, they have the option to appeal it, so it may not go in front of a judge.”
Avery Russell, a 12-year-old from Reynoldsburg, has undergone four facial reconstruction surgeries since being attacked by two pit bulls last summer. She is among hundreds of dog attack victims who face a lifetime of physical, emotional, and mental scars.
“I never imagined something so ordinary would turn into something so tragic,” she said during a second House Public Safety Committee hearing Tuesday. “I truly though it was going to die. I remember the fear how it felt like the world had stopped.”
“Trying to make change in the state has actually helped with our healing process,” Drew Russell added, Avery’s mother. “To know that her suffering into in vain and it hasn’t been for nothing. We are affecting change. It is really sad that it had to get to this point in order to bring awareness to the issue. In a way, we are glad this happened to us because we can give people voices who may not have them.”
Joining Avery at the stand, other dog attack victims speaking during the House Public Safety Committee hearing included Steve Salopek, who was attacked while on a run, and Michael Schneider, a USPS worker who was attacked on his route. They want owners of vicious dogs to be held responsible for their dogs’ behavior and actions.
House Bill 247’s current language states that dogs would be euthanized if there is an unprovoked attack. Dog owners convicted of violent or animal cruelty offenses would be banned from owning certain dogs, and new fencing and registration rules would be enforced for dogs deemed dangerous or vicious.
“The fact this language is addressing the two-kill loophole is humongous,” Russell told ABC 6. “That is the biggest problem with laws as they’re written. We are glad to see the increase in fines and prison time for offenders.”
“It tells vicious dog owners that if you don’t take responsibility for your animals and something happens, we’re going to hold you responsible,” Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) said. “And that’s where the increased penalties come into play.”
State Representative Kevin Miller, a sponsor of H.B. 247, said he hopes the legislation will bring justice for victims and provide greater peace of mind to the community.
“This bill will help to restore confidence in our society,” Rep. Meredith Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg) told ABC 6. “We are glad this language is taking care of our most vulnerable, including our children and our elderly.
The legislation would also ban dangerous or vicious dogs from participating in hunting, require owners to have secure fencing to prevent escape, and prohibit certain violent or animal cruelty offenders from owning or living with these dogs. It also shifts the registration responsibility from the county auditor to the dog warden, while still requiring standard registration with the auditor.
“H.B. 247 is a very good approach,” Rob Sexton said with the American Kennel Club. “This holds vicious dog owners accountable. It implements protocols for dealing with dangerous or vicious dogs to ensure the public is protected.”
The American Kennel Club is requesting two changes to the bill, including defining injuries that could result in a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog designation to exclude physical harm that results from a dog’s playful behavior. The other change revises the mandatory training included in the language, ensuring trainers are informed of a dog’s violent behavior and attack history.
During the hearing, Dr. Dana Schwartz, Pediatrician Surgeon from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, spoke on the rise in dog attack victims the hospital has seen in recent years.
“Most children bitten by a dog are under the age of nine,” Dr. Schwartz added. “These attacks are more common in the summertime because kids are out of school, dogs are outside, and children are spending time around them. At Nationwide Children’s, we typically treat more than 400 patients per year with dog bite injuries, meaning we see at least one patient bitten by a dog, if not more, every single day.”
Schwartz spoke on her support for H.B. 247, saying prevention is crucial for protecting children from dangerous dogs.
“I am proud we are able to give our testimony about our opinions and what we want to see changed,” Avery told ABC 6. Avery is the brave story behind the proposed Avery’s Law, aiming to establish clear regulations and penalties for dog owners whose pets attack. Proposed measures in the bill include increased jail times and fines for dog owners, a requirement for dog owners, veterinarians, or healthcare providers to report a bite or attack within 24 hours, and a mandate for owners of dangerous dogs to have liability insurance.
“These vicious dog owners are never going to suffer as much as victims, but it’s a start to holding them responsible, to holding them accountable,” Drew Russell said.
Supporters are pushing to have the bill passed and signed into law by the end of the year.
