A woman was airlifted to a Columbus hospital Sunday morning after a brutal dog attack in the Lucasville Bottoms, an incident that raises a troubling question now echoing through the community:
Could this have been prevented?
The call came into 911 just after 10 a.m. reporting that a dog had attacked a woman and bit off her thumb. Witnesses at the scene were reportedly searching the area for the severed thumb so it could be placed on ice while emergency crews rushed to help.
The woman had been bitten multiple times.
Dispatch requested an air ambulance to land at the Lucasville Library, where the fire department quickly established a landing zone. The victim was flown to a Columbus hospital for treatment.
🚨 Dog Already Known to Authorities
As the situation unfolded, the Scioto County Dog Warden immediately recognized the pit bull involved.
According to dispatch traffic, the dog had previously been declared dangerous in an earlier court case and had been ordered by a judge to be properly contained.
The dog warden also warned dispatch she would need assistance removing the animal, reporting that the owner was expected to refuse to allow the dog to be taken.
Multiple Scioto County Sheriff’s deputies met with the dog warden at Speedway in Lucasville before heading to the residence to take custody of the dog.
⚖️ A Troubling History
Court records show the dog’s owner, Betty Bostwick, was convicted in September 2023 of:
- Failure to confine a dog
- Failure to register a dog
At the time, the dog warden had also filed a request asking the court to designate the pit bull as a dangerous dog.
However, Portsmouth Municipal Court ordered the dog returned to the owner, provided the animal was kept in a locked, fenced yard and properly restrained.
🐕 Reports of Additional Incidents
Sources in Lucasville tell Scioto County Daily News the dog has allegedly been involved in multiple incidents since that ruling.
Following Sunday’s mauling, the case was reopened Monday after the dog warden filed:
- An affidavit to seize the dog
- An emergency request for custody of the animal
Authorities have not yet released information on whether charges will be filed against the owner.
The condition of the victim has also not yet been publicly disclosed.
⚖️ Avery’s Law Is About to Change Cases Like This
The attack comes just two weeks before Ohio’s Avery’s Law goes into effect, legislation designed to strengthen penalties and enforcement in cases involving dangerous or neglected animals.
Under the updated law:
- Repeat dangerous dog violations can trigger stronger criminal charges
- Authorities will have greater ability to seize animals earlier
- Courts will have expanded authority to restrict ownership
Supporters of the law say it was created to prevent tragedies before they happen — particularly in cases where a dog already has a documented history of aggression.
❗ A Question That Won’t Go Away
For neighbors in the Lucasville Bottoms, one question now hangs over the case:
If a dog was already ruled dangerous — and the owner had already been convicted of failing to confine it — should it have still been there at all?
That question may soon be answered in court.
And under Avery’s Law, cases like this may be handled very differently in the future.