Columbus Dog Bite Lawyer

Strict Liability

Columbus splits dog bite handling between two agencies, and knowing which does what saves time. Franklin County Public Health investigates and quarantines dogs, cats and ferrets that bite people or other animals, with the ten-day observation period most often served at the owner's home. The Franklin County Dog Shelter handles enforcement of Ohio's dog laws — responding to service requests, investigating nuisance and dangerous dog complaints, impounding strays, and assisting police in investigations involving dogs.

Since Avery's Law took effect in March 2026, that enforcement layer produces more documentation than it used to. Healthcare providers and veterinarians must now report bites within 24 hours, and local health boards file an annual dog bite report with the state — so a Columbus bite generates records through the clinical route as well as the animal control route.

The Ohio feature worth acting on locally is the breadth of § 955.28(B), which reaches the owner, keeper and harborer of a dog. In a rental-heavy market like Columbus that matters practically: a landlord who permits a tenant's dog in shared hallways or a courtyard may be a harborer and liable in their own right, which can mean a second insurance policy where the owner has none.

In Columbus, Franklin County Public Health investigates bites and runs the ten-day quarantine, while the Franklin County Dog Shelter handles dangerous dog complaints and enforcement — two agencies, two records. Ask the shelter whether the dog carries any prior classification, since Avery's Law has required owners of dangerous or vicious dogs to carry $100,000 in liability insurance since March 2026. And identify who was keeping the dog and who controls the property where it lives, not just who owns it: Ohio Rev. Code § 955.28(B) makes keepers and harborers liable too.

Read the full statute breakdown: Ohio Dog Bite Laws → · Typical payouts: Ohio Settlement Amounts →