Ohio Enacts "Avery's Law" to Crack Down on Negligent Dog Owners

New legislation gives authorities more power to seize dogs involved in attacks and imposes stricter penalties on irresponsible owners.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:03am

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Ohio has passed "Avery's Law", named after 11-year-old Avery Russell who was severely injured in a dog attack in 2024. The new law imposes criminal penalties on dog owners who fail to control their pets, allows immediate seizure of dogs involved in attacks, and mandates $100,000 in liability insurance for owners of dangerous dogs. The law is designed to prevent similar tragedies and hold negligent dog owners accountable.

Why it matters

The new law aims to improve public safety by giving authorities more tools to address dangerous dogs and irresponsible owners. It comes in response to high-profile attacks like the one that injured Avery Russell, highlighting the need for stronger regulations to protect people, especially children, from vicious dog incidents.

The details

Avery's Law, signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in December 2025, includes several key provisions: it imposes criminal penalties on owners who fail to control their dogs, allows immediate seizure of dogs involved in attacks, revises investigation and enforcement requirements, protects dogs acting in self-defense, mandates termination of dogs that kill or seriously injure someone, and requires $100,000 in liability insurance for owners of dangerous or vicious dogs.

  • Avery Russell, then 11 years old, was severely injured in a dog attack in June 2024.
  • Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 247, known as Avery's Law, in December 2025.
  • Avery's Law took effect on March 19, 2026.

The players

Avery Russell

An 11-year-old girl who was severely injured in a dog attack in 2024, prompting the creation of Avery's Law.

Mike DeWine

The Governor of Ohio who signed Avery's Law in December 2025.

Kevin Miller

The Ohio State Representative who sponsored House Bill 247, known as Avery's Law.

David Thomas

An Ohio State Representative who praised Avery's Law as a "long overdue change to how we treat dangerous dogs and negligent owners in Ohio."

Matthew Dubon

The Trumbull County dog warden who welcomed the new law's provision allowing authorities to immediately seize dogs involved in attacks.

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What they’re saying

“This law will hopefully save lives and prevent the tragedy of Avery's story and others who have reached out from my district.”

— David Thomas, Ohio State Representative

“That basically boils down to provoked or unprovoked attacks, and my bill only deals with provoked cases. If the dog is protecting itself or its home or family, then that is not the issue we're concerned with. The biggest issue is when a dog gets out or is off its leash and attacks someone for no reason.”

— Kevin Miller, Ohio State Representative

“Before, when a bite happened, we could not really show up to someone's house and confiscate their personal property (the dog). We'd have to just put the animal on a 10-day bite hold at the residence while the case was reviewed.”

— Matthew Dubon, Trumbull County Dog Warden

What’s next

The judge in any cases brought under Avery's Law will decide whether to allow dogs involved in attacks to remain with their owners or be seized by authorities.

The takeaway

Avery's Law represents a significant shift in Ohio's approach to regulating dangerous dogs and holding negligent owners accountable. By empowering authorities to immediately intervene and imposing stricter penalties, the state aims to prevent future attacks and protect public safety.