A woman needing 26 stitches after a dog attack is just one of several recent animal incidents in Lawrence County that highlight why Ohio lawmakers passed Avery’s Law, which took effect March 18 and significantly strengthens penalties for dangerous dog cases.
In the most serious case, deputies responded to Proctorville after a woman was attacked while walking her dog along a rural road.
According to the report, the woman asked a dog owner if it was safe to walk past the property because two dogs were loose in the yard. The owner reportedly told her the dogs were not aggressive.
Moments later, a black dog jumped on her, knocking her to the ground and biting her multiple times.
Her husband rushed her to St. Mary’s Hospital, where doctors treated severe bite wounds that required:
- 20 stitches in her left arm
• 4 stitches in her leg
• 2 stitches in her right arm
Deputies advised the dog owner to quarantine the animal for 10 days and issued a citation for Dogs Running at Large. The case was also forwarded to the Lawrence County Dog Warden and Health Department.
Under current law, that violation is typically treated as a misdemeanor.
But starting March 18, Ohio’s Avery’s Law changed how many of these cases are handled.
Delivery Driver Bit While Dropping Off Package
In another incident in Crown City, a delivery driver reported being bitten while delivering a package to a home.
The driver told deputies she had placed the package on the porch when a small white long-haired dog ran out of a dog door and bit her, drawing blood.
She later went to a doctor’s office where the wound was treated and she received a shot.
The dog owner told deputies she was not home at the time and said delivery drivers are usually asked to leave packages in a box at the end of the driveway.
Deputies verified the dog’s rabies vaccinations and tags were current, but the animal was still ordered to be quarantined until the health department reviews the case.
Loose Pit Bull Running Near Fire Station
Deputies also responded to a report of a white pit bull running loose near the Perry Township Fire Station.
The caller told dispatch the dog had a history of biting people, raising concerns someone else could be injured.
Deputies located the dog running along the roadway before it returned to a nearby home. The owner later arrived and was issued a Dogs Running at Large citation with a court date scheduled.
Dog Fight Ends With One Animal Shot
In another case, deputies were called after a pit bull wandered onto a property and began fighting with another dog.
The homeowner told deputies he could not physically break up the fight and retrieved a shotgun, firing a single round to stop the attack.
Deputies later determined the dog had slipped out of its collar and wandered away from a nearby home.
The owner arrived while deputies were still investigating and confirmed the dog belonged to him. He told deputies the animal had never left the yard before and likely slipped free from a lead overnight.
No citation was issued in that situation because deputies determined it was an unexpected accident during an active dog fight.
Why Avery’s Law Matters
Cases like these are exactly why Ohio lawmakers created Avery’s Law, named after a young Ohio girl who was killed in a dog attack.
The law took effect March 18, and changed how dangerous dog cases are handled statewide.
Under the new law:
- Dogs involved in serious attackscannot be quarantined at home
• Authorities gain stronger investigative powers in dangerous dog cases
• Repeat attacks can lead to felony charges for owners
• Courts can impose stricter control measures on aggressive animals
For communities like Lawrence County, where deputies regularly respond to loose or aggressive dog complaints, the new law is expected to bring tougher consequences for irresponsible dog ownership — before more people get hurt.
