A single dog attack can change a family forever in minutes. Ohio has watched too many of these tragedies unfold, especially when children or seniors are the victims. That is why House Bill 247, known as Avery’s Law, has drawn powerful bipartisan support and urgent public attention. Our Ohio dog bite and animal attack lawyers at Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers are closely following this law because it strengthens dangerous dog enforcement and reinforces victims’ rights. As Cleveland dog bite lawyers serving clients across Ohio, we help families in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Lorain, and beyond pursue justice after serious dog attacks.
Avery’s Law is named after Avery Russell, who was 11 years old when she was attacked by two dogs in Reynoldsburg, Ohio in June 2024. The injuries were catastrophic and sparked a statewide push to close loopholes in Ohio’s dangerous dog statutes.
House Bill 247 passed the Ohio House in June 2025 and the Ohio Senate unanimously approved it in November 2025. The bill now awaits final House concurrence on Senate amendments before going to Governor Mike DeWine for signature.
For families affected by dog attacks, these changes are not political. They are personal, and they matter.
Avery’s Law updates Ohio’s dog law in several major ways, focusing on prevention, faster intervention, and stronger accountability for owners of dangerous or vicious dogs. Key provisions include:
Under Avery’s Law, dog owners can face criminal consequences if they negligently fail to prevent an unprovoked attack by a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog.
This is a major shift. Previously, serious injuries could happen without clear criminal tools to address owner negligence unless repeated attacks occurred.
The law gives local dog wardens authority to seize a dog immediately after an attack, rather than waiting through long procedural delays.
This is designed to stop repeat harm and protect neighborhoods while investigations move forward.
Avery’s Law revises how authorities must investigate complaints and enforce dog law violations, including clearer procedures for dangerous dog designations.
In plain terms, it closes gaps that previously allowed aggressive dogs and negligent owners to slip through the system.
If a dog kills or seriously injures a person, the law requires the court to order humane euthanasia after due process.
This corrects a troubling weakness in the prior law, which often required multiple severe incidents before a court could order euthanasia.
Avery’s Law also protects dogs that are acting in self defense or defending their owners or property, helping ensure the law targets true threats rather than reasonable protective behavior.
Avery’s Law strengthens public safety and criminal enforcement, but dog bite victims in Ohio already have significant civil rights. Ohio Revised Code § 955.28 makes owners, keepers, and harborers strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs in most situations.
That means you usually do not have to prove the dog had bitten before or that the owner “knew” the dog was dangerous. As long as the victim was not trespassing, committing a crime, or provoking the dog, liability generally attaches.
So if you are thinking, “I cannot sue because it was the first bite,” that is one of the biggest misconceptions our Cleveland dog bite lawyers hear. The law supports victims more than most people realize.
Communities across Ohio, from Cleveland and Akron to Cincinnati and Toledo, have reported an alarming number of severe dog attacks in recent years. Lawmakers and dog wardens have pointed to patterns that show how preventable most attacks are. Common risk factors include:
Avery’s Law responds directly to these issues by forcing earlier intervention and clearer consequences.
If your child, parent, or loved one is attacked, your priority is safety and medical care. But early action also protects your legal claim. Steps that help include:
Insurance companies often try to minimize injuries or argue provocation. Our legal team at Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni handles those conversations so you do not have to.
Dog attack cases involve real trauma and sometimes lifelong consequences. Our Ohio personal injury attorneys at Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers pair compassionate guidance with aggressive litigation when needed. We also represent victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall unsafe buildings, nursing home abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, and other serious injuries statewide.
Why families trust our firm:
Avery’s Law is a meaningful step forward for Ohio families. By adding criminal penalties, speeding up seizure authority, and requiring euthanasia in the most severe cases after due process, House Bill 247 aims to stop dangerous dog behavior before it devastates another household. It also sends a clear message that negligent ownership will no longer be treated as a minor issue when public safety is at stake.
At the same time, victims should remember that Avery’s Law does not replace your existing civil rights. Ohio’s strict liability statute still allows you to pursue compensation for medical care, scarring, emotional trauma, and long-term costs after a dog attack. If you or someone you love is harmed, you do not have to navigate the legal system alone or accept what an insurer decides to offer first. Whether the attack happened in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Lorain, or anywhere in Ohio, Cleveland dog bite lawyers at Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to protect your rights and fight for the recovery you deserve.
Schedule your free consultation today with Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers. You pay nothing unless we win. Call 800-LAW-OHIO (800-529-6446) or reach out online to discuss your case. If Avery’s Law and the rise of dangerous dog attacks in Ohio has you worried about your family’s safety or rights, we are here to help you take action.
