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Nitro’s Law Passes Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee – FINALLY!
It is a joyous day today. Many Ohioans – and many animal welfare advocates drawn into the fight because of the flat out senselessness and atrocity of it — are celebrating. Nitro’s Law – House Bill 108, was finally passed in the House Criminal Justice Committee — in a move not expected to happen so soon after the Congress’ recess (aka vacation) I must say…
Under the new amendment, prosecutors can charge kennel owners with felony-level penalties instead of misdemeanors if/when they fail to provide basic care for the animals in t
heir kennels.
The bill was named for Nitro – now famous on Facebook with almost 9,000 followers — the dog who died in 2008 while he was staying at now infamous (and defunct) High Caliber K-9 kennels in Youngstown, Ohio, which is near Columbus and Cleveland. Nitro died a slow, tragic, horrible death from starvation and dehydration. To make matters worse, there were 7 other dogs also found starved to death on the property. At that time, animal cruelty was a misdemeanor in Ohio, and the owner of the kennel, Steve Croley, got off with four months of jail time.
But Nitro’s owners were not walking away without a fight. And although they remain faceless to many, Liz and her husband have become unsung heroes of the national fight against animal cruelty, crusading using the 21st century’s fastest, most efficient, and most “instant-reaction-inducing” medium: social media. Hence, Nitro’s Law.
After some prodding, a bill was written and sponsored by representatives Ronald Gerberry and Bob Hagan, who has been a big help.
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.
Advocates of Ohio animal welfare (and when it was created, Nitro’s Law) have been vehement and adamant since that asshole Croley got off with practically nothing, about passing legislation to make animal cruelty a felony in Ohio.
House Bill 70 was introduced way back in 2009. It passed the House that year and in 2010 only to die on the Senate floor. And it had A LOT of support. (I have been covering this story since it happened.)
This quote, from Hagan, was taken after the passage:
“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.”
So now, we Ohioans and we animal cruelty and animal welfare advocates must continue on. We must keep writing and calling, writing and calling. We MUST remind these legislators that — as constituents who put them in office — this is CRUCIAL to us. This is serious.
I am praying that the THIRD TIME’S A CHARM.
PLEASE PASS NITRO’S LAW OHIO SENATORS.
JL Smith
Cleveland, Ohio
** For further reading, graphic photos of the day Nitro was discovered, videos, testimony and more, see the Nitro Foundation website**
Great news. Animal abuse should never be just a misdemeanor. I’m glad these laws are finally getting passed.
The substitute bill offered several changes to the original version, relating to negligent deprivation.
Rep. Garland amended the bill to add the terms “manager or employee” in addition to owner to address who might be held liable for violations under the proposal.
The bill passed on an 11-2 vote, with Reps. Bubp and Uecker voting against the measure. They said while they promote ethical treatment of animals, the legislation should not favor treatment of animals over humans.
Mr. Bubp said the Legislature should be focused on helping people and pointed to regulations in the bill that would make it a felony for certain mistreatments of animals while a section in an introduced bill dealing with missing children would only make it a misdemeanor for parents or guardians to not promptly report children missing.
Mr. Uecker said he believes the penalties for mistreatment of animals addressed under the bill are adequate under current statutes.
No one should be mistreated and I hope this bill passes.
Truffle and Mom Paula
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!!! WHAT ARE WE, INHUMAN? THESE POOR BABIES DIDN’T ASKED TO BE BORN, IT’S OUR FAULT THAT WE DON’T PENALIZE OR JAIL INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SO THOUGHTLESS. WE SHOULD ALSO WONDER WHAT OUR MAKER DOES WHEN HE LOOKS DOWN ON THSES POOR DEFENSELESS SOULS THAT NEVER REALLY HAD A CHANCE. HE IS ALSO LOOKING DOWN ON THE HUMANS THAT DO THIS AND CAUSE THIS?