SCIOTO COUNTY, OH — Almost everyone agrees Avery’s Law is a good idea. Stricter rules for dangerous dogs. More accountability for owners. Fewer attacks. But as the law officially takes effect, county leaders are asking a much tougher question: Who’s going to pay for it?
⚖️ A Law With Real Costs
At Thursday’s Scioto County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Scottie Powell didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
“The reality is we could double the size of the dog shelter and be full tomorrow.”
That’s before Avery’s Law fully ramps up enforcement.
Powell said the county has already purchased 15 additional kennels just to create a little more breathing room — but it’s not enough.
“It’s an unfunded mandate that kind of gets thrown on the counties… They pass laws without any real thought about how these things get paid for.”
The kennels Powell refers to are not permanent structures but cages, similar to those used to temporarily hold animals at a vet’s office.
💡 What Is an “Unfunded Mandate”?
In plain English, an unfunded mandate is when the state tells local governments:
👉 “You have to do this new thing…”
…but doesn’t give them any money to do it.
So counties like Scioto are left to figure it out themselves — using local tax dollars, donations, or already stretched budgets.
And in this case, “this new thing” means:
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More dogs being seized
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More investigations
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More housing, feeding, and medical care
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More staff time and resources
🐾 A Shelter Already at the Breaking Point
Commissioner Merit Smith said the county is already struggling to keep up.
“We don’t have enough room. We could use the whole courthouse as a shelter and it would fill up in just a little bit.”
Smith said the county has worked to address concerns about cleanliness and conditions, bringing in maintenance crews and making improvements.
But space? That’s the real problem.
“It’s an ongoing problem.”
🏠 The Bigger Picture: More Than Just Dogs
Smith also pointed to a growing issue that doesn’t always get talked about in animal control discussions:
homelessness.
“Many of those people have a pet and they can’t take care of it, so the pet gets picked up.”
That adds even more pressure to a system already stretched thin.
🤝 A Community Trying to Step Up
With limited options, the county is turning to the community for help.
Powell said a group is working to form a nonprofit to support the shelter and offset some of the costs.
Volunteers have already been stepping in to help with:
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Cleaning
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Maintenance
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Daily care
“It is a community effort to maintain the shelter.”
❗ The Reality Moving Forward
Even with Avery’s Law now in effect, Powell admits there’s no easy fix.
“Do I have a great answer on how you offset the cost? Most of the rescues are full. Most of the shelters around the state are full.”
For now, officials say the best solution is prevention:
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Spay and neuter pets
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Keep dogs properly contained
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Use tags or microchips to help return lost animals home
Because once a dog enters the system, there’s a good chance…
There’s nowhere left to put it.
