Unwanted Horses Growing Problem In Ohio

MARENGO, Ohio - Even as a young girl, all Lynne Petitti ever dreamt of was living with a horse of her own…

Petitti is still living her dream decades later with the Circle P Sanctuary in Morrow County…

Dr. Leah Dorman of the Ohio Farm Bureau said that money is a problem. It costs $2,500 a year to care for a horse and more if they have special needs.

Dorman would rather see a horse respectfully lose its life "than to unnecessarily starve to death."

"Is there anything wrong with a horse processing facility? The answer is no. Unfortunately, we do not have horse processing facilities in the U.S. at this point,"…SEE VIDEO

Exotic-animal rules debated in secret

Ohio has no rules regulating the sale and ownership of exotic animals six months after Gov. John Kasich allowed a ban enacted by his predecessor to expire…

However, new rules governing a wide range of exotic animals and reptiles are being discussed by an eclectic group in closed-door meetings convened by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The group includes representatives of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Humane Society of the U.S., Knox County prosecutor’s office, Ohio Association of Animal Owners, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and Zoo Association of America…

The Kasich administration closed the working group’s meetings to the public and urged group members not to discuss the proceedings with the news media. However, public meetings will be held in the future, Jones said…more

Man, 80, Hospitalized In Columbus From Kangaroo Attack

GREEN CAMP, Ohio - A Marion man was recovering from injuries after he was attacked by a kangaroo on Tuesday night…more

Burgess pleads in dog shelter case

TROY - A New Carlisle man accused of running a dog rescue and adoption center in Piqua before city officials shut it down after it was declared a public nuisance and health hazard pleaded guilty Monday as charged to a total of 14 misdemeanor counts following a pretrial hearing in municipal court.

Jeff Burgess, 57, the former owner of One More Chance Rescue and Adoption, once located at 125 Clark Ave., entered the guilty pleas to a variety of related counts of animal cruelty and violations regarding rabies, immunization, quarantine and unsanitary conditions, in addition to three other counts related to prescription drugs found inside the facility back when it was raided last November.

A presentence investigation was ordered, but no sentencing date was set…

…Only a few dogs died, and all other dogs were adopted out to happy homes, officials with the clean up process said…more