Hamilton County officials press dog warden for clearer quarantine, impoundment guidance after Colerain attack

Hamilton County commissioners on March 11 heard from Chief Dog Warden Beth Ward and Deputy Pardue about recent dog attacks in the county, including a Colerain Township incident in which two dogs were cited and the warden’s office has submitted documentation to the court seeking a judicial designation.

The presentation laid out how state law governs investigations and quarantine: dog-bite reports are investigated by animal control and the local health authority, animals are quarantined for 10 days for rabies observation, and county officers may recommend that a dog be designated "dangerous" or "vicious" under the Ohio Revised Code. Ward said the office’s “primary goal is the safety of people and animals in our community.”

Why it matters: Commissioners said residents in Colerain Township and elsewhere are fearful after multiple serious incidents and urged the dog warden and county administration to pursue measures — including impoundment to ensure animals cannot escape while under review — that would better protect neighborhoods while respecting legal constraints.

Ward, introduced as Beth Ward, chief dog warden for Hamilton County, described the dog-bite investigation process and the legal steps that follow. “Anyone with knowledge of any dog bite incident has to report it to the…