In March 2026, Ohio enacted its most significant overhaul of dangerous dog law in more than a decade. Known as Avery’s Law, House Bill 247 is named for Avery Russell, an 11-year-old Reynoldsburg girl who was severely injured in an unprovoked dog attack in 2024. The case exposed major gaps in how Ohio classified and penalized dangerous dogs, and lawmakers responded with sweeping changes that every dog owner – and every past or future dog bite victim – should understand.
What Is Avery’s Law?
House Bill 247 passed the Ohio House and Senate unanimously, was signed by Governor Mike DeWine on December 19, 2025, and took effect March 18, 2026. It rewrites large portions of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 955, which governs dog ownership, and closes a longstanding “one free bite” gap that allowed some negligent owners to avoid serious consequences until a second incident occurred.
Key Changes for Dog Owners
- Redefined categories: the law revises what counts as a “nuisance,” “dangerous,” or “vicious” dog act, based on the severity of the incident rather than requiring a documented bite history.
- Criminal liability for negligence: an owner can now face criminal charges the very first time their dog commits an unprovoked attack, not just after a repeat incident.
- Mandatory liability insurance: owners of dogs formally designated dangerous or vicious must carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance, a requirement that used to be discretionary.
- Higher registration fees: the annual registration fee for dangerous and vicious dogs doubled, from $50 to $100.
- Faster seizure authority: dog wardens can now immediately seize a dog involved in a serious attack, rather than waiting through a lengthy designation process.
- Mandatory euthanasia in the most severe cases: if a dog kills or seriously injures a person in an unprovoked attack, a court must order humane euthanasia after due process.
What This Means If You’ve Been Bitten or Attacked
Avery’s Law strengthens criminal accountability, but it operates separately from a victim’s right to pursue a civil claim. Under Ohio’s long-standing dog bite statute, dog owners can be held strictly liable for injuries their dog causes, regardless of whether the dog was ever previously designated dangerous. That means you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, scarring, and pain and suffering, whether or not a criminal case is ever filed against the owner.
What This Means If You Own a Dog
- Securely confine your dog whenever guests, delivery drivers, or contractors are on your property.
- If your dog has already been designated dangerous or vicious, obtain the required $100,000 liability insurance policy now, not after an incident occurs.
- Keep your dog’s registration and microchip information current with your county auditor or dog warden.
- Cooperate promptly with any dog warden investigation, and understand that a hearing must be held within ten days if you dispute a designation.
Whether you are recovering from a dog attack or trying to understand new obligations as a dog owner, the law around dangerous dogs in Ohio has genuinely changed. Yonas & Phillabaum can help you understand your rights and options under Avery’s Law, whether that means pursuing a personal injury claim or navigating a dangerous dog designation.
