COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) – Following a brutal dog attack on a woman in Colerain Township, there are growing concerns from neighbors, local police, and township trustees about why Hamilton County’s dog warden did not remove the aggressive dogs from the area.
According to police, the dogs’ owners weren’t home when they escaped from their backyard. Trustees released a statement claiming that the dog warden staff told officers the dogs were “too vicious to take in.” They believe this inaction is putting residents at risk.
Tensions are running high in the neighborhood, and many people are fearful. Jessica Duffy, a neighbor, picked up her children on Monday from the bus stop because they’re too frightened to walk home.
“My daughter wouldn’t come outside to play over the weekend,” Duffy said. “They want me to take them and pick them up.”
The dog attack on Applevalley Court has become the talk of the neighborhood. The fact that the dogs are still in the area is making many residents uneasy.
“It’s really unsettling,” said Duffy.
Sarah Farrell, who lives next door to the dogs, is particularly concerned after seeing the injuries sustained by Emily Rentschler in the attack. She fears what could have happened had a child been involved.
“I don’t think a child would have survived that attack,” Farrell said. “I don’t know how I would protect my son. He’s not allowed outside without an adult, even if we’re just walking to the car. The kids aren’t going to be playing outside.”
Vickie Bowman captured footage from her Ring camera showing officers shooting pepper balls at the dogs in an attempt to get them back into their yard. She expressed frustration with the situation.
“How can we live being afraid to even go in our own yards?” said Bowman.
She also distributed flyers to her neighbors, warning them about the dogs and encouraging them to contact the warden.
“I’m very angry, and something needs to be done,” said Bowman.
Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin Cordie shares the same concerns, noting the severity of the attack.
“We’re concerned that the dogs are still there. This was a pretty vicious attack,” said Cordie.
He explained that officers requested the dog warden to take the dogs, but they wouldn’t.
“It is spelled out pretty well in the administrative code 955 section about dogs and what a vicious dog is and what are the requirements to have a vicious dog,” said Cordie.
A dog warden officer returned to Applevalley Court on Monday to speak with neighbors. Colerain Township trustees argued that the law is clear and that by not taking the dogs, the warden is putting the safety and lives of residents at serious risk.
“To say that these dogs are too vicious to take, yet they’re allowed to stay here, is mind-blowing,” Duffy said.
Cincinnati Animal CARE told Local 12 that they are limited in what they can do because the dogs are still owned. They explained that the warden cannot seize dogs from their owners without their permission, even after an attack. In this case, the owners must voluntarily surrender the dogs for them to be put down.
Cincinnati Animal CARE also confirmed that the dog’s owner was cited following the incident. The dogs are currently under a mandatory 10-day quarantine as required by law after an attack. Animal CARE is investigating whether to pursue a court order to seize the dogs and potentially have them euthanized.
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