The Bluffton Police Department responded to our inquiry with the following information regarding a recent dog attack in Bluffton.

On December 6, 2024 at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers from the Bluffton Police Department responded to a N. Lawn Ave residence where a female reported being chased back into her house by a large dog.  After taking this complaint, officers were able to determine that the dog was back on its property and officers secured the loose gate the dog escaped from. The Allen County Dog Warden was contacted about this complaint and was investigating the matter.  

At approximately 4:15 p.m. on the same date, officers were made aware of another incident involving the same dog.  A female reported she was walking in the area of Spring St. and Washington St. and was knocked down from behind by a large dog and had to seek medical attention for injuries sustained in the incident. Officers investigated the matter and were able to determine that the dog in question was the same dog as the earlier complaint, and both incidents happened at the same time. This complaint was also forwarded to the Allen County Dog Warden’s Office for further investigation.

Warden Julie Shellhammer responded to the Icon's inquiry that “Deputy Marando did investigate the incident in Bluffton. The dog you are asking about is not and has not been in custody of our office.  The owner may choose to surrender the dog but they are not required to.  READ MORE

“The dog owner was cited for the dog running at large and it was deemed as a dangerous dog, which may be appealed in court.”

Ohio Revised Code says that "dangerous dog" means a dog that, without provocation, has caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person or killed another dog. (See https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-955.11)

The code provides specific requirements for locked and covered enclosures, leashes and tethers, and muzzles.

When a dog has caused serious injury it is termed a “vicious dog.”