Wood County dog warden warns Avery's Law will make keeping dangerous dogs harder, outlines outreach

Wood County Dog Warden Jodi Harding told the Board of County Commissioners on March 10 that the county currently has about 1,900 unrenewed dog licenses and that shelter outreach will include door-to-door checks, an adoption event March 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Sunset Bistro, monthly enrichment visits with Kan Du Group and participation in Safety City programs beginning in June.

Harding summarized provisions of Ohio House Bill 247 (commonly called Avery's Law), which takes effect March 20. The changes she listed include raising the dangerous-dog license fee from $50 to $100, requirements that a dog once deemed dangerous be spayed or neutered and microchipped, warning signs and adequate fencing on the owner's property, and a $100,000 liability insurance requirement. Harding told the board that dog wardens will have enhanced seizure authority and that, after judicial proceedings, a dog formally deemed vicious may be euthanized.

"This law will make it difficult for people to keep a dangerous dog," Harding said. She differentiated the statutory terms, saying a dog is typically considered dangerous if it bites unprovoked or attacks another dog, whereas a vicious designation requires a brutal attack that causes permanent scarring or death. Harding cautioned that the shelter could face increased risk and liability because it may have to house dogs while legal proceedings are pending.

Harding said the shelter currently houses 15 dogs, including two brought in for owner-requested euthanasia after biting incidents. She also noted that bite incidents must be reported to the Health Department and law enforcement, which creates a record even when witnesses do not want further action.

What happens next: Harding said renewal outreach and enrichment programs will begin in the coming weeks; the board recorded the update during the regular session.