When Ohio lawmakers passed Avery's Law earlier this year, the legislation was widely praised for strengthening dangerous dog laws and increasing penalties when serious attacks occur. The bill was inspired by the tragic 2024 attack on 12-year-old Avery Russell, who suffered life-altering injuries after being attacked by two dogs during a playdate.

While the law's goal of improving public safety received broad support, recent reports suggest that one aspect of the legislation may be creating unintended consequences for animal cruelty enforcement.

Questions About Who Investigates Animal Cruelty

According to a recent statement from the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center (ARC), the agency believes Avery's Law removed its authority to seize or impound abandoned, injured, neglected, or abused dogs. As a result, the ARC announced that such cases should now be reported directly to local law enforcement agencies and humane societies.

The change represents a significant shift in how animal cruelty complaints may be handled in some Ohio communities. Animal control agencies and dog wardens have historically played a key role in responding to reports of neglect, abandonment, and abuse because they possess specialized training and experience dealing with animal welfare cases.

However, the situation remains unclear.

Following the ARC's announcement, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office stated that it is continuing to refer animal cruelty and neglect complaints to the ARC because the agency remains the organization best equipped to investigate those cases. The Sheriff's Office indicated that discussions are ongoing among law enforcement agencies, humane societies, and the ARC to determine how Avery's Law should be implemented moving forward.

Why This Matters

Effective animal cruelty enforcement depends on clear authority and coordinated response systems. When agencies are uncertain about who is responsible for investigating complaints, delays can occur. In cases involving severe neglect, abandonment, or cruelty, delays may leave animals in dangerous situations for longer periods of time.

Ohio already faces challenges related to animal cruelty enforcement. Many communities have limited humane society resources, and not every jurisdiction has dedicated personnel available to investigate cruelty complaints. Dog wardens and animal control agencies often serve as the first point of contact for concerned citizens reporting animals in distress.

If Avery's Law has unintentionally limited the authority of trained animal welfare professionals to intervene in cruelty cases, lawmakers may need to revisit the issue to ensure animals continue receiving timely protection.

A Need for Clarification

The concerns raised by Montgomery County illustrate the importance of carefully evaluating how new legislation functions in practice. Laws intended to improve public safety can sometimes create unintended operational challenges that only become apparent after implementation.

As agencies across Ohio continue to interpret and apply Avery's Law, additional guidance or legislative clarification may be necessary to ensure that reports of animal neglect, abandonment, and cruelty are investigated quickly and effectively.

Protecting both public safety and animal welfare requires clear lines of responsibility. Ohio's animal advocates, law enforcement agencies, humane societies, and policymakers all share a common interest in making sure that animals in danger do not fall through the cracks.

Take Action

1. If you support strong and effective animal cruelty enforcement in Ohio, contact your state legislators and encourage them to address any gaps or ambiguities created by Avery's Law. Animals suffering from neglect, abandonment, or abuse deserve a system that responds quickly, clearly, and effectively. Submit an action alert to Support Increased Penalties for Animal Cruelty.

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