Dog Attack
Drew Russell got a call one day that no parent wants. Her daughter Avery’s friend was panicking on the phone, saying Avery had been attacked by dogs.
The phone was passed to a police officer at the scene. All Drew could ask was, “Is my daughter alive?” The officer couldn’t say and told her to go straight to the hospital.
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Drew sped down the highway to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, praying Avery would be okay.
Avery: Dog Attack
Avery, just 11 years old, was severely attacked by two pit bulls, Apollo and Layla. They tore off most of her ears, damaged her nose and face, and left deep wounds on her head and body.
When Drew arrived, doctors and nurses were trying to save Avery’s life. Her injuries were so bad, Drew barely recognized her own child.
Despite the trauma, Avery squeezed her mom’s hand—letting her know she was still there. She was rushed into a nine-hour emergency surgery.
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Life Changed Forever
Three months later, Drew is overwhelmed with anger and grief. She’s frustrated that one of the dogs is still alive and that the owner, Stephanie Ayers, even asked the court to give her dog back.
Drew had to close her business and quit her job to take care of Avery full-time. Their life is now filled with constant medical appointments: therapy, surgeries, and emotional healing.
Avery has had four surgeries so far and still needs new ears and a new nose. These surgeries are medically necessary, not just cosmetic.
The emotional scars are even deeper. Avery has PTSD, flashbacks, and panic attacks when she sees dogs. She’s afraid of her own reflection and often asks her mom, “Why did this happen to me?”
Rebuilding, One Step at a Time
Avery is working hard in therapy. She’s learning to use her hands again, gaining strength, and even trying to get back to playing basketball—her favorite sport.
Her therapists encourage her, and she pushes herself to beat her own records.
She’s also in speech therapy. The attack caused nerve damage, so she can’t feel if her nose is running or if there’s food on her face.
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Talking is harder too—something Avery had been working on before the attack because she has autism.
Avery returned to school and is trying to find some normalcy. But she skipped school picture day. She didn’t want to be reminded of how much she’s changed.
Dog Attack: What Happened
On the day of the attack, Avery was visiting her friend Kiera. Kiera’s mom took them to a house in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, where four pit bulls lived.
Drew didn’t know the dogs were there or that they had previously bitten two other children.
Inside the house, the dogs cornered Avery. When she tried to run to safety, the dogs chased and attacked her in the backyard. Kiera’s mom, Jessica Henry, tried to help but was also attacked.
Neighbors heard the screams. One man, Zachary Ruff, used a power washer to spray the dogs and stop the attack. Police arrived and Officer Scott Manny shot one of the dogs that charged at him.
He found Avery severely injured, carried her out to paramedics, and got her to the hospital. One firefighter said he had never seen such terrible injuries on a child in his 17-year career.
Fighting for Justice and Change
Now, Drew wants changes in Ohio’s dog laws. Her lawyer is pushing for tougher penalties against owners of dangerous dogs—especially when children are the victims. She wants:
- Felony charges for owners who know their dogs are dangerous
- Stricter penalties when kids are attacked
- Mandatory insurance for dog owners
- Euthanasia after a dog’s first deadly attack
Right now, Ohio law only considers these cases misdemeanors, and dogs don’t have to be put down until they’ve killed twice.
Drew believes the system failed Avery. Neighbors had seen the dogs act aggressively before, but no one officially reported it. Now, it’s harder to hold the owner accountable.
Hope for the Future
Drew hopes that in 10 years, this trauma will be behind them. She wants Avery to be healed physically and emotionally—and maybe even help others through their trauma.
For now, she focuses on helping Avery stay strong. The road to recovery will take years, but Drew is determined to give her daughter a full and hopeful future.
News Article culled from USA Today, Visit
News on Dog Attack
- 4-Yr-Old Boy Mauled To Death By Stray Dog In Andhra Pradesh – ETV
- Sheffield GP surgery briefly placed in lockdown after dog attack – BBC
- Dog Bite Prevention Week: Mum recalls ‘horrendous aftermath’ of dog attack on son – RNZ
- We talk to Hamilton County’s dog warden about laws regarding dog attacks – WVXU
