Please register by emailing the completed LEPD student registration form to lepd@owens.edu.
Registration open through June 22, 2026
Presenters include:
Todd Curtis, Special Investigator, Wood County Prosecutors
Vicki Deisner, Esq., Executive Director, Ohio Animal Advocates
Kayla Evanoff, Shelter Manager/Advocate, The Cocoon – Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency
Steven Heaven, Executive Director, Toledo Humane
Carole O Heyward, Esq., Senior Clinical Professor of Law and Faculty Director, Cleveland State University Animal Law Clinic
Kailey Leary, Esq., Supervising Attorney and Clinic Director, Cleveland State University Animal Law Clinic
Scott Mills, Chief Dog Warden/Humane Agent, Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Dr. Alana Van Gundy, Esq., Professor in Criminal Justice and Legal Advocate
Larry Williams, Chief Dog Warden, Licking County Dog Warden’s Office
Why This Workshop?
Ohio Animal Advocates, with support from the Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust, will host this in-person workshop to explore: 1) a legal overview of Avery’s law, and what are the changes from the previous dangerous dog law, along with the background of the problems in the field that led to this legislation, how the legislation has addressed these problems – or not – and how is implementation of the law working, and 2) the critical issue and opportunities to establish and enhance cross-training and cross-reporting processes at the state and local level. This workshop will explore “the dark side” of the human-animal bond and its implications for human and animal services, family welfare agencies, prosecutors, law enforcement, and human and veterinary medicine. It will describe strategies, public policy, research, and programs to prevent family violence and to respond to its human and animal victims.
Governor Mike DeWine recently signed House Bill 247 (H.B. 247) in Spring of 2026, also known as “Avery’s Law”, which significantly changes Ohio’s dangerous and vicious dog laws. Topics to be addressed include: newly established requirements and other changes to these laws, including revisions to registration requirements, new definitions, imposition of criminal penalties, changes to the culpability requirements, notable exceptions, and mandatory reporters, among other provisions.
On April 12, 2021 cross-reporting of animal and child abuse became law in Ohio. This new law requires Ohio social workers, counselors, family therapists, law enforcement and veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse, and dog wardens, animal control officers, and law enforcement to report suspected abuse of children. This law is important because compelling evidence links animal cruelty and neglect to domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse, and elder abuse.
Animal abuse frequently is an indicator and predictor of interpersonal, family, and community violence, particularly in domestic violence and child maltreatment scenarios. Significant numbers of women report that threats to their companion and farm animals prevent them from leaving abusive relationships. Children who perpetrate or witness animal cruelty are at risk of being victims themselves and/or future perpetrators of violence, with lifelong adverse emotional consequences. Cross-training and cross-reporting among human services and animal protection agencies aid in creating more effective species-spanning community collaboratives that prevent and address these interlocking forms of family violence.
Topics to be addressed include: Ohio’s cross-reporting law, the inclusion of pets in Ohio protective orders, safe havens for pets of survivors, applicable statutes and statistics, case studies, and how animal abuse is linked with child maltreatment, domestic violence, elder abuse, and community violence. There will be case studies which highlight the link between animal and human violence, a discussion of Ohio’s felony strangulation law, and information about utilizing threat assessments for better case resolution and officer safety.
For more information contact: Vicki Deisner, Ohio Animal Advocates, vicki.deisner@gmail.com, 614/493-8383
Dennis Cole, Owens Community College, dennis_cole@owens.edu, 419/344-0843
Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy CPT Approved
Presented by Ohio Animal Advocates with funding provided by the Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust