The man whose treatment of dogs at his High Caliber kennel led to the push to pass Nitro's Law has been arrested on a probation violation.
In October 2008, Steven Croley, the owner of that K-9 boarding and training facility in Youngstown, was convicted of four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals after police found 15 dogs either dead or dying at his home and business. Croley said he couldn't afford to take care of the animals he'd been paid to board and train.
He was sentenced to 120 days in jail along with probation, during which he was not permitted to own dogs. His probation was to be up in January 2012.
But Austintown police and Mahoning County humane agents received several complaints that Croley did have dogs at his Chaucer Way home in Austintown, and he was arrested Monday night. Police said he reportedly had three dogs living with him.
Croley was arraigned in Youngstown Municipal Court Tuesday and released on bond. The judge found there was probable cause for a probation violation.
In September, lawmakers in the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee passed House Bill 108 or Nitro's Law, named after one of the dogs that died while in Croley's care.
Under the amendment, which must still gain approval by the Senate and governor, prosecutors would be able to use their discretion on charging kennel owners with a felony instead of misdemeanor when failing to provide basic care for animals in their kennels.
