New Ohio Law Makes Animal Abuse A Felony
By Dreamer
Animal Rights activists in Ohio have reason to rejoice. Beginning September 13, the long-fought-for Goddard’s Law, or House Bill 60, will go into effect.
Goddard’s Law, named for Dick Goddard of Cleveland TV station WJW, will making knowingly causing harm to a companion animal a fifth degree felony, reports WJW.
The bill has bipartisan support, having been sponsored by Republican David Hall and Democrat Bill Patmon. It passed through the state senate unanimously May, and 92 to 1 through the House.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, signed the bill in June.
The bill took five years to negotiate and, ultimately, pass. Patmon noted that it was the hardest bill he had ever worked on.
"Something people said was impossible is possible tonight," Patmon said after the bill’s passage, notes Cleveland.com.
The bill establishes that anyone knowingly causing physical harm to a companion animal will receiving between six months to a year in jail and a fine of $2,500.
The bill designates withholding food, water, or shelter from a pet as harm.
Furthermore, HB60 requires veterinarians to develop a method by which they can identify if a pet owner is using an animal to obtain opioids, and instates a prison sentence for assaulting a law enforcement animal that results in the animal’s death.
According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, as of 2014, South Dakota became the fiftieth state to enact a felony punishment to animal cruelty.
In May 2016, a federal animal cruelty bill was introduced to the House, notes the Huffington Post. The FBI has also created a federal database in conjunction with local authorities to track animal abuse crimes.
Sources: WJW, Cleveland.com, Animal Defense Legal Fund, Huffington Post / Photo Credit: Agne Sage / Instagram
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