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Montgomery County officials outline changes under Avery’s Law (HB 247)
Summary
The Montgomery County Animal Resource Center presented an overview of Avery’s Law (HB 247), effective March 20, 2026, highlighting refined definitions for nuisance, dangerous and vicious dogs, new criminal penalties for owners who fail to prevent prohibited acts, and expanded court authority for dog disposition.
Amy Bohardt, Animal Resource Center (ARC) public safety specialist, presented an overview of Avery’s Law (House Bill 247), telling the Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners that the statute took effect March 20, 2026 and aims to 'enhance community safety' by tightening definitions and penalties.
The presentation listed concrete changes: refined statutory definitions for 'vicious,' 'dangerous' and 'nuisance' dog acts; new criminal penalties for owners who negligently fail to prevent those acts; and expanded court authority over dog disposition, including circumstances in which courts may or must order humane destruction. Slides cited ORC 955.22 when explaining the new owner-liability provisions and the range of penalties from minor misdemeanors up to felonies in the most serious cases.
Bohardt emphasized procedural changes the law introduces for designation hearings and appeals, noting that in some cases the dog warden or law enforcement 'may or must' retain possession of a dog while a hearing is pending. The presentation repeatedly stressed that police dogs remain excluded from the statutory definitions when acting in the line of duty.
The presentation framed the law as targeting both public safety and owner accountability; county officials asked staff to track operational impacts as ARC and law enforcement adapt to the new statutory framework.
