SCIOTO COUNTY, OH — As the Scioto County Dog Shelter faces staffing shortages, leadership changes, and overcrowding, dangerous dog complaints are still pouring in — and in some cases, families are being told to wait.
Two recent calls in McDermott and Heuter Hollow paint a troubling picture of a system under strain.
♿ Close Call for person in Wheelchair
In McDermott, a father called 911 after a dog attempted to bite his son for the second time.
This time, the son avoided injury — but just barely.
According to the report, the dog bit the wheelchair instead of the son, raising serious concerns about what could have happened.
Despite the close call, deputies advised the father to contact the Dog Warden the next day for follow-up.
🐔 Livestock Killed, Woman Trapped in Car
In a separate incident on Heuter Hollow Road, a woman reported a much more chaotic and dangerous situation.
She told dispatch she had gone to her sister’s home — while her sister was hospitalized — to feed ducks and chickens.
But when she arrived, she found a pit bull on the property that had already killed the animals.
Even worse, she said the dog would not let her out of her car, effectively trapping her.
By the time deputies arrived, the dogs had run off, and a report was taken.
⚠️ A System Under Pressure
Both incidents come at a time when Scioto County’s animal control system is facing intense pressure:
- The dog warden’s office is short-staffed
- The shelter is overcrowded
- Leadership is in transition following a recent resignation
- Public scrutiny is at an all-time high
And even with Avery’s Law now in effect, which allows for stronger enforcement against dangerous dogs, the reality on the ground hasn’t caught up yet.
