Rep. Stewart Votes in Support of Avery's Law

State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) Wednesday voted in support of House Bill 247 – also known as “Avery’s Law” – legislation that would establish new requirements on vicious dog owners to prevent dog attacks.

“This critical bill is hugely impactful for my district,” said Stewart. “We lost a resident, Jo Ann Echelbarger, and subsequently her husband Stanley Echelbarger, last year after she was killed by a pitbull in Pickaway County,” Stewart continued, referencing a tragic incident that arose last year after a dog, which was previously designated as a vicious dog due a separate attack on another person and dog in the community, mauled Jo Ann Echelbarger to death while she was gardening in Ashville.

“If this legislation had been in place 2 years ago, it is highly likely that Jo Ann Echelbarger, and her husband Stanley, would be with us today,” said Stewart. “This bill is one of the greatest bills we will pass in this General Assembly.”

Key provisions of the bill are as follows: 

• Imposes criminal penalties on a dog owner if he or she negligently fails to keep their dog from committing, without provocation, an attack;
• Gives the local dog warden the authority to seize a dog immediately following such an attack;
• Revises the investigation and enforcement requirements for when an authority receives any complaint that indicates a possible violation of any provision of the Dog Law;
• Includes protections for dogs that are defending themselves, their owners, or their property; and
• After receiving due process, mandates termination of the dog if it kills or seriously injures a person. 

House Bill 247 is named ‘Avery’s Law’ in in honor of Avery Russell, who was severely injured in a dog attack in Reynoldsburg, Ohio in June 2024, when she was 11 years old.

House Bill 247 now goes to the Senate for further consideration.