1 dog walker available in Sunbury
| Service | Typical range (USD) |
|---|---|
| 30-minute solo walk | $20–$30 |
| 60-minute solo walk | $30–$45 |
| Group walk | $16–$25 |
| Drop-in visit | $20–$32 |
| Overnight sit | $55–$95 |
These are national guideline ranges — local rates in Sunbury vary with solo vs group walks, peak after-work times, and the number of dogs.
Treat the meet-and-greet like an interview. Ask to see proof of insurance and any pet first-aid certification, ask for two client references you can actually call, and confirm how keys are handled (a written key agreement is the professional standard). Watch how the walker greets your dog — a good one gets low and lets the dog approach. Agree in writing on the exact service, rate, cancellation policy, and the emergency plan (which vet, who they call).
Ohio is the sharpest walker-liability state — holding the leash makes you a strictly-liable "keeper" under ORC § 955.28, and assumption of risk is not a defense.
These state-level rules apply across Ohio; the local rules that govern day-to-day walking are on the Local bylaws tab.
Under ORC § 955.28(B), the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is strictly liable for any injury, death, or loss it causes — no prior viciousness needed, and non-bite injuries (knockdowns) are covered. Owner is the legal owner; keeper is whoever has custody or control of the dog (which includes a walker or sitter); harborer is someone in control of the premises where the dog lives who acquiesces to it. A 2026 Ohio Supreme Court decision narrowed the harborer category for property owners but did not change the keeper category.
The defenses are narrow and statutory only: the victim was trespassing or committing a crime (more than a minor misdemeanor), or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the property. Assumption of risk is not a defense — unlike California, an Ohio handler cannot be met with that argument, but neither can a handler use it to escape being the strictly-liable keeper.
There are two paths with two clocks: the statutory strict-liability claim has a 6-year limit (ORC 2305.07), while a common-law negligence or scienter claim (needed for punitive damages) has a 2-year limit (2305.10) — a long tail of exposure.
Avery's Law expanded the dangerous and vicious-dog definitions and added fencing and liability-insurance requirements. Leash and licensing are local — dogs must be licensed, and rabies vaccination is required. Ohio applies modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar.
