In Columbus, lawmakers in the House Criminal Justice Committee have passed House Bill 108, or Nitro's Law.
Under the amendment, prosecutors will be able to use their discretion on charging kennel owners with a felony instead of a misdemeanor when failing to provide basic care for animals in their kennels.
The bill was named for Nitro who died in 2008 while at High Caliber K-9 kennels in Youngstown. Nitro died from starvation and dehydration. Seven other dogs also were found starved to death, but because of current animal cruelty laws in Ohio, the abuser only received four months jail time.
House Bill 108 must now be passed by the full House of Representatives and Senate before becoming law. It would allow animal abuse charges to go from a misdemeanor to a fifth-degree felony.
It was sponsored by Valley representatives Ronald V. Gerberry and Bob Hagan.
"I am extremely happy that this bill passed the Criminal Justice Committee, but we still have a long way to go," said Gerberry. "I am in total agreement with the many thousands of animal lovers across this state that this bill is needed and can set the tone of intolerance on violent crimes committed against our four-legged friends. However, there is a process in getting legislation passed, and while we are anxious to move Ohio from the bottom rank of animal protection legislation, we are obligated to follow the rules. Sometimes slow and steady wins the race and this is certainly a race that I would like to win."
"Certainly today's vote is a step in the right direction. Crimes against defenseless animals are as despicable as crimes committed against defenseless children, seniors and other fellow humans. At the end of the day they are all victims. Ohio can do better than that. We can rewrite the laws to make a difference, and that is what Ron Gerberry and I are trying to do," said Hagan.
To read the bill in full,
click here.
