The lawsuit says county Dog Warden Preston Schumacher and the condo association are partly to blame for their failure to remove the dogs after prior incidents.
PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — The children of a 73-year-old Pickaway County woman killed in a dog attack last year are speaking out in search of justice for their mother.
On Oct. 17, Jo Echelbarger was working in her flower beds in front of her home on Kildow Court in Ashville when she was attacked by two dogs.
Echelbarger suffered serious injuries from the attack and went into cardiac arrest on the way to Grant Medical Center. She was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital.
Echelbarger’s children filed a 25-page lawsuit on Wednesday, saying that her death was entirely preventable.
“It’s not OK. Something has to change. This can never happen again,” said Echelbarger’s daughter Earline Romine during a press conference.
Immediately after the attack, 10TV found that the dogs involved had a history of violence but were never taken away. Several cases against their owners, Adam and Susan Withers, were dropped in municipal court.
The lawsuit says county Dog Warden Preston Schumacher and the condo association are partly to blame for their failure to remove the dogs after prior incidents of violence.
“We’ve been told time and time again, ‘There’s only so much we could do. The law isn’t there.’ Is there a gap in local and state law?” said Bill Rogers, Echelbarger’s son.
“The notion that a dog can kill and get a free pass is absolutely ridiculous,” said attorney Rex Elliot.
Newark Rep. Kevin Miller said he intends to introduce legislation strengthening laws targeting dangerous dogs and their owners.
Echelbarger’s children hope their mother’s death will be what prevents someone else from being hurt.
“My mom lost her life. It needs to mean something. Something good has to come of that and what that is is change,” said Romine.
Adam and Susan, the mother and son who owned the dogs, were found guilty in Pickaway County of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of confining, restraining and debarking dogs.
They’re still waiting to be sentenced.
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