Boardman police are investigating a report of aggravated menacing after a woman said a man threatened to shoot her service dog on Tuesday afternoon.

The victim spoke with officers at the Boardman Police Department, reporting that the incident occurred about three hours earlier while she was visiting a home on Chester Drive. According to the police report, the woman had taken her two dogs outside when a man in a maroon SUV parked on the street nearby noticed one of the animals was not on a leash.

The woman told police the dog, a German Shepherd, is a trained service animal capable of obeying commands without a restraint. She alleged the man told her to put the dog on a leash before he shot it. The man reportedly repeated the threat, stating he would shoot the dog if he returned and found it still unrestrained, before driving away.

Officers used the vehicle's license plate number to identify a person of interest in the case. The victim told authorities she wishes to pursue criminal charges. The report has been forwarded to the Boardman Police Detective Division for further review.

Under both Ohio law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals are generally required to always be under the control of their handler. While Ohio's general leash laws require dogs to be restrained in public, federal guidelines provide a specific exception for service animals.

A service dog must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the animal's work or the individual's disability prevents their use. In cases where a leash cannot be used, the handler must maintain control through voice commands, signals, or other effective means.

Service animals are permitted in all areas where the public is allowed to go, and establishments cannot require documentation—such as proof of certification or training—as a condition for entry. In Mahoning County, owners of assistance dogs can apply for a permanent registration tag through the County Dog Warden free of charge.