Fremont Cruelty Case Causing Big Bills For Sandusky Humane Society

Please check out my story in today's Blade:

Cruelty Case Causing Big Bills

It seems like when an animal cruelty case first breaks, it's big news. And then time goes on and people move on to the next story.

But this is a story that hasn't gone away for the folks at the Humane Society of Sandusky. And it definitely hasn't gone away for the 10 foster homes who have poured their heart and soul into taking care of the 10 dogs that are caught in legal limbo.

I can't even imagine having a dog for over a year and having to live day-to-day wondering if it might end up taken away from me. My heart goes out to the foster familes. You are doing an amazing thing for these dogs, no matter the outcome. But I do hope justice is served.

 

Comments

[Stomkat]

It’s time for General Assembly to return its attention to Nitro’s Law

I would like to bring attention to a bill known as Nitro’s Law or Ohio House Bill 108. Some have heard of it, many have not. This law, if passed, would give prosecutors the option to charge kennel owners, manages and workers who abuse animals in their care with a fifth degree felony as opposed to a misdemeanor. This would be the first step in hopefully making animal abuse by anyone in this state a felony. Ohio is one of only four states in the nation that still considers animal abuse a misdemeanor.

This efforts is in response to the starving of 19 dogs at High Caliber K-9 Training and Boarding Facility in Coitsville in October of 2008, in which eight of the dogs died. This bill is named for one of the dogs who died, Nitro, a Rottweiler who was a beloved family companion. His owners, residents of New York, joined with others in 2009 to form Nitrofoundation.com to work towards legislation that would make such a crime a felony. The man charged in the animals death, Steve Croley, received four months in jail.

House Bill 108 passed the House in February. It passed through the Senate Agricultural Committee in May and is now in the Senate waiting to be brought to the floor. This bill has the full support of Rep. Ron Gerberry, who sponsored the bill and Sen. Joe Schiavoni, among others. Despite numerous supporters in the Legislature, Senate President Thomas E. Niehaus has not moved it to the floor for a vote.

We are constantly bombarded with reports of animal abuse, neglect and cruelty, especially in this area. The burning of a small calf at a farm in Lisbon is the latest. It is beyond horrific.

The passage of Nitro’s Law/HB108 would bring Ohio in line with 46 other states that currently have a “first offense” felony provision on their books for animal abuse.