State representatives Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown, and Bob Hagan, D-Youngstown, again testified before a House of Representatives committee Wednesday on a bill that would increase the penalty for abuse of a companion animal.
Hagan and Gerberry are sponsoring the bill, also known as Nitro's Law. The committee also heard from Nitro's owner, Tom Siesto, according to a release from the two representatives.
Siesto and his family, who are from New York, took their dog Nitro to a training facility in Youngstown, he said. Their dog, along with seven others, were later found starved to death. He said those responsible got only four months in jail.
The bill as sponsored by Hagan and Gerberry would make such animal abuse by an animal's custodian or caregiver a fifth degree felony.
The Criminal Justice Committee is expected to schedule further hearings on the legislation.
