In 2020, an 11-year-old boy was seriously mauled by a dog in the common area of a mobile home park in Ohio. He needed more than 50 stitches and emergency medical care.

Now, years later, the case has reached the Ohio Supreme Court, and its outcome could impact every renter and landlord in the state.

The question at the heart of the case is simple: Should landlords who allow dogs in shared spaces—like playgrounds, sidewalks, or courtyards—bear some legal responsibility when attacks happen?

Ohio law already recognizes that a “harborer” of a dog can be held responsible for its behavior. The boy’s family argues that landlords who market properties as dog-friendly, create dog rules, and control access to common areas are, in effect, harborers—and should be held to account when serious injuries occur.

The mobile home park in question had a banned breed list and leash rules on paper. But none of that protected this child. And unless the law is clarified or upheld by the Court, other families could face the same trauma without justice.

If landlords are totally shielded from liability, it sends the message that no one is responsible—not even those who profit from creating dog-friendly environments without ensuring safety. That’s not fair to victims, and it’s not how accountability works.

We call on the Ohio Supreme Court to uphold the appeals court ruling and recognize that landlords do share responsibility when they allow dogs in common areas under their control.

Let this ruling set a precedent: safety in shared spaces matters, and when harm happens, families deserve legal pathways to seek justice.

Add your name if you believe landlords should be held accountable when they allow dogs in common areas that injure others.