COLUMBUS, Ohio - Governor Mike DeWine is scheduled to sign a new law today, establishing new requirements for owners of dangerous and vicious dogs to improve public safety and increase accountability.

House Bill 247, known as "Avery’s Law," was passed by the 136th General Assembly and is scheduled to be signed during a 2:00 p.m. ceremony in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office.

According to the Ohio House of Representatives, House Bill 247 is named in honor of Avery Russell, a young girl from Reynoldsburg who was severely injured in a dog attack in June 2024.

State Representative Kevin Miller, the bill’s primary sponsor, introduced the measure to provide law enforcement and prosecutors with more effective tools to handle irresponsible dog owners and prevent future attacks. Lawmakers designed the bill to close gaps in the state’s current "Dog Law" by allowing for faster intervention after an incident and setting clearer penalties for negligence.

Based on the official text provided by the Ohio General Assembly, Avery’s Law includes several major changes to how the state regulates high-risk animals and how owners are punished for violations.

The law grants local dog wardens the authority to seize a dog immediately following an unprovoked attack that results in injury. If a dog kills or seriously injures a person, the law now mandates the humane destruction of the animal, provided that the owner receives due process through the court system.

The criminal penalties under the new law are structured based on the dog's classification.

If a dog is classified as "dangerous" because it has caused injury or killed another dog, the owner can be charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor for a first offense. If the owner fails to comply with confinement or insurance requirements for a "vicious" dog—defined as one that has killed or seriously injured a person—the penalties escalate significantly. In cases where a dog previously designated as "vicious" kills a person, the owner may face a fourth-degree felony charge.

To ensure victims can be compensated for medical expenses, owners of dogs designated as dangerous or vicious must now maintain at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Additionally, reporting requirements are now in place, requiring healthcare providers and veterinarians to report dog bites to local health authorities within 24 hours of treatment or discovery.

While the law increases requirements for owners of aggressive dogs, it also includes protection for animals acting defensively. Under the bill, a dog cannot be designated as dangerous or vicious if it was defending itself, its owner, or its property from an intruder or a person committing a crime. These "self-defense" clauses ensure that dogs protecting their homes from illegal activity are not unfairly penalized.

By shifting more enforcement power to local dog wardens and requiring updated registration with both the county auditor and the warden, state officials aim to create a more transparent system for tracking potentially dangerous animals.

In a statement from the Ohio House of Representatives, Representative Miller noted that the legislation is a "long overdue" measure that focuses on holding irresponsible owners accountable while increasing public safety across the state.

The law will officially take effect 90 days after the governor’s signature, marking a significant update to Ohio’s animal control statutes.