Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Dog warden says new 'Avery’s Law' will allow immediate detentions and could strain Carroll County pound
Summary
Merle Long, Carroll County Dog Warden, told commissioners that House Bill 247 (Avery’s Law), effective March 20, 2026, expands criminal liability for dog owners, allows seizure and detention when community safety is at risk, and requires destruction of dogs that kill or seriously injure a person after due process; he warned the new authority could strain holding capacity at the county pound.
Merle Long, Carroll County Dog Warden, briefed the Board of Commissioners on House Bill 247—known locally as Avery’s Law—during the March 23, 2026 meeting.
Long said the law, signed by the Governor in December and effective March 20, 2026, amends Ohio Revised Code Chapter 955 to broaden what constitutes a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog and increases penalties for owners who…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat