Ohio Still Struggles To Prevent Dog Bites, Even With New Law

DAYTON, OH, March 07, 2014

On May 22, 2012, a new Ohio law became effective that reclassified problem dogs. The legislation aimed to distinguish dogs as a "nuisance," "dangerous" or "vicious." The classifications are important because they impose requirements on dog owners whose animals are considered dangerous or vicious.

Unfortunately, the new laws have not prevented as many dog attacks as hoped for, as noncompliant owners have allowed their pets to victimize people again and again. A fatal attack in Dayton, Ohio, illustrates the problem.

On Feb. 7, Klonda Richey's worst fear came true: The Dayton woman was fatally mauled by her neighbor's dogs on the sidewalk in front of her home.

Richey, 57, had called the county dispatcher to complain about her neighbor at least 23 times throughout several years preceding the attack, many of the calls concerning the two mixed-breed dogs that would eventually kill her. She wasn't the only one to contact authorities, as 13 complaints about the animals were filed with the Montgomery County animal warden during the past three years.

Even though some of the complaints described how the dogs were chasing people and running loose from their yard, the government took no action against the animals' owners.

"Under Ohio laws, for a dog-at-large violation to be issued, the officer must actually witness the dog off the property and not under the owner's immediate control," Mark Kumpf, director of the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, said in an interview with the Dayton Daily News.

Sadly, this situation is common in Ohio, which recently ranked fourth in annual dog bites.

Dayton Is The Epicenter Of The Dog Bite Problem

Dayton is tied for 13th in the U.S. for number of dog attacks, a particularly infamous distinction considering the city is 181st in population. The numbers are damning enough for many to consider Dayton the dog bite capital of the country.

Many victims are mail carriers and utility workers simply trying to do their jobs.

"The basic issue is residents have to keep dogs on a leash and not let them run around," Bob McDaniel, customer relations coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service in Dayton, said in an interview with the Dayton Daily News. "If a dog is running around an area, there may be three, four people on that street not getting mail. We'll inform the residents they can pick up their mail at the post office."

It's sad that some dog owners are so irresponsible that they prevent their neighbors from receiving mail. It's even sadder to think about the deadly threat the animals pose to neighborhood children and other residents.

Concerned Dayton citizens may contact authorities about a problem dog, but there is little chance that anything will be done.

In most instances, the authorities do nothing until an injury or wrongful death has already occurred. Whether government officials are truly powerless to do something or they simply need to get more creative with enforcement techniques, the majority of fault for a dog attack rests on the shoulders of the animal's owner.

I'm A Dog Bite Victim. What Should I Do?

The first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Even a seemingly minor dog bite can involve permanent nerve damage or cause a deadly infection. Scarring and disfigurement are also concerns, especially if the victim was bitten in the head or neck --common injury sites for child victims.

Many Ohio hospitals will automatically report a dog attack to the authorities, but your local police department can help if your health care provider did not report the injuries. Even if you know the owner or animal and do not want to get him or her in trouble, it is important to report it to help prevent future attacks.

Many Ohio dog bite victims do not take this step, only to regret it later. Contact an experienced dog bite injury attorney. A skilled Ohio dog attack lawyer performs many important tasks for a victim:
- Investigating the history of the dog, owner and premises
- Assigning appropriate money value to your injuries - this is crucial!
- Serving as your contact with the insurance company
- Bringing a lawsuit, if necessary, to recover damages from the dog owner and/or insurance company

Do not make the mistake of handling an injury or wrongful death claim without help. Damage valuation is a difficult task. If you undervalue your claim and accept money from the dog owner or insurer, you forfeit your right to seek further damages down the road, regardless of whether the extent of your injuries weren't obvious.

Reputable Dayton dog bite attorneys will offer you a free consultation to discuss your case. This meeting is confidential and obligation-free.

About Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, L.P.A.

Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, voted best law firm in the Miami Valley via People's Choice, is a local injury law firm with a national presence. From our primary office in Dayton, Ohio, we are experienced in handling dog bite cases.

Call 1-800-223-8897 today and you'll see why 98 percent of our injury clients say they'd use us again. For a sampling of our verdicts and settlements, visit our Case Results page.