SCIOTO COUNTY, OH — Even with a new dog warden on the job, Scioto County continues to see a steady stream of dog-related calls—and in two recent incidents, deputies once again found themselves unable to immediately reach animal control.
The calls ranged from a missing family pet to a child bitten by a neighbor’s dog, highlighting the continued strain on the county’s dog control system as Avery’s Law places greater emphasis on dangerous dog enforcement.
🐕 Family Comes Home to Find Dog Missing
Just before noon, a Minford resident called 911 after returning home to a troubling discovery.
According to the report, the homeowner found the front door standing open—and the family dog gone.
A deputy attempted to contact both county dog wardens for assistance but was unable to reach either of them.
With no immediate response from animal control, deputies documented the incident and completed a report.
🚑 Child Bitten by Neighbor’s Dog
Later, deputies were dispatched to Lucasville after receiving a report that a neighbor’s dog had bitten a child.
The child’s mother requested an ambulance after discovering a bite mark on the child’s hand. Deputies noted there was a small mark on the top of the hand, though it did not initially appear to be a serious injury.
When deputies spoke with the dog’s owner, she said the child had been petting the dog while it was on her property. According to the report, she said the dog had been getting out of its enclosure and then suddenly bit the child “out of nowhere.”
A deputy went to the neighboring property and located the dog—a white Great Pyrenees—which was secured at that time.
However, the situation didn’t stay resolved for long.
As the deputy was clearing the call, the original caller phoned back to report the dog was loose again.
The deputy returned and personally observed the Great Pyrenees slipping through the fence onto the neighboring property. The deputy secured both the dog and the fence before leaving and advised the owner to contact the dog warden during normal business hours.
Deputies also attempted to contact the dog warden during the investigation but ultimately had to leave a voicemail.
⚖️ Avery’s Law Raises Expectations
These incidents come as Avery’s Law has increased public expectations surrounding dangerous dog investigations and owner accountability.
One of the goals of the new law is to prevent repeat incidents by giving authorities stronger tools when dogs repeatedly escape or attack people.
In this case, deputies documented that they personally witnessed the dog escaping its enclosure after the bite had already been reported.
❗ The Calls Keep Coming
From loose dogs and missing pets to attacks on people and other animals, dog-related calls remain among the most frequent complaints handled by local law enforcement.
In these two cases, deputies responded quickly—but once again found themselves leaving voicemail messages for animal control while residents waited for answers.
As Scioto County continues working through shelter staffing, overcrowding, and the demands of Avery’s Law, many residents continue asking the same question:
When a dangerous dog call comes in, how quickly can animal control respond?
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