Avery Russell shares her traumatic dog attack experience with Ohio lawmakers to support Avery’s Law.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Avery Russell, 12, is soft spoken but does not mince her words.
“I truly thought I was going to die,” Russell told a group of Ohio lawmakers at the House Public Safety Committee meeting during a second hearing for House Bill 247, known as Avery’s Law.
She was referring to a playdate gone wrong last June, when she was viciously attacked by a pair of pit bulls who tore off her ears, and left intense physical and emotional scars.
The attack left her in a coma. She has spent the last year in and out of appointments at Nationwide Children’s Hospital trying to recover and regain confidence. She has undergone five surgeries with a sixth procedure scheduled for August.
“The fight for Avery’s Law gives me hope that what happened to me will spark change,” Avery said.
Representative Kevin Miller (R-Newark) introduced House Bill 247, now known as “Avery’s Law.” He is partnering with Rep. Meredith Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg) who had drafted her own legislation in response to Avery’s attack.
“We all sat down and said we need to look at maybe combining all these and moving forward with one piece of legislation as opposed to three separate,” Miller explained.
Avery’s Law would allow dog wardens to seize a dog involved in an attack immediately, then allow a judge to decide if the dog should be required to undergo training or if it would have to be put down.
“I think this will keep the community safe because we can immediately seize these dogs, and if it is probable cause, they won’t be in the community to create harm in the area,” Miller explained.
In Avery’s case, the owner of the dogs that attacked her is facing a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine.
Avery’s Law would create stronger penalties and more accountability for owners of dangerous dogs.
“If your dog has been designated as a nuisance or dangerous dog, you need to abide by the appropriate restrictions — and if you don’t, you will be held accountable,” Miller said.
Late June will mark the one-year anniversary of Avery’s attack.
Avery said she wants to continue sharing her story in hopes it will help others.
“I am trying to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” she said.
If Avery’s Law is approved in the House and the Senate, legislators hope to get it to the governor’s desk by the end of the year.
The City of Reynoldsburg, where Avery lives, recently passed its own version of Avery’s Law. The new legislation goes into effect on June 26.
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