New Dog Law Imposes $450 Fines and Immediate Termination for Violations
Dog ownership laws in the United States are changing, and the penalties attached to them are no longer minor. Ohio has begun tightening enforcement by replacing small fines with criminal charges and mandatory outcomes following serious attacks.
Their latest update increases financial penalties, expands enforcement authority, and introduces court-ordered euthanasia in severe cases. These changes reshape how responsibility is defined when a dog injures or kills a person, and they place sharper consequences on owners who fail to maintain control.
A Law Built After a Wake-Up Call
Ohio’s latest update to its dog laws did not come out of nowhere. It followed a brutal 2024 attack on 11-year-old Avery Russell, who survived after two dogs left her critically injured. The penalties handed down at the time were four days in jail and a $450 fine for the owners.
That outcome sparked outrage and pressure to act. The result is Avery’s Law, signed by Mike DeWine and scheduled to take effect in March 2026. The goal sounds simple on paper: increase accountability when dogs seriously harm or kill a person. The execution, however, carries real weight.
Changes Under The New Rules
The most serious shift involves mandatory action after severe attacks. Courts must now order a dog to be put down if it kills or seriously injures a human, following due process. That decision no longer sits in a gray area shaped by local discretion or minimal penalties. Owners face steeper criminal consequences as well. Negligently failing to control a dog that attacks without provocation can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the dog’s history. In severe cases, jail time starts at six months.
Financial penalties also increase. The familiar $450 no longer represents the full cost of a serious incident. Owners of dogs officially labeled dangerous or vicious must register the animal each year for $100 and carry $100K in liability insurance.
Expanded Authority On The Ground
Image via iStockphoto/Mexitographer
One of the quieter changes affects enforcement. Local dog wardens now have clearer authority to seize a dog immediately after a qualifying attack has occurred. Investigations also follow stricter standards when complaints suggest violations of Ohio’s dog laws. Protections still exist for dogs acting in self-defense or defending an owner or property, since not every bite triggers the same outcome. The law targets unprovoked attacks that result in serious harm. This sharper framework closes gaps that previously allowed dangerous situations to reset with little follow-up.
National coverage of the law relies heavily on stark language, particularly the use of the word “termination.” That tone fuels anxiety among everyday dog owners who picture minor incidents leading to extreme outcomes. In reality, the law focuses on a narrow set of circumstances involving serious injury or death.
Most owners will never reach that threshold. Still, the headlines succeed at one thing: they underline that accountability now carries teeth. Public patience for repeat incidents involving dangerous animals has worn thin. Lawmakers respond by tightening consequences, even if the messaging comes across as blunt.
A Broader Shift In Expectations
This law reflects more than a single state reacting to one tragedy. It signals a growing expectation that pet ownership entails legal responsibility commensurate with the potential harm involved. Communities want assurance that severe attacks result in meaningful consequences, not merely symbolic penalties. For responsible owners, daily routines remain unchanged. Leashes, supervision, and training are still essential. The difference appears when those basics fail and someone pays the price.