Gerberry: Animal Cruelty Law Stalled in Columbus

The Mahoning County Sheriff's Office plans on filing animal cruelty charges against a Berlin Center woman Friday...

But some state legislators say Ohio's laws don't have enough strength to deal with these situations.

“Yes, the laws in Ohio need to be strengthened,” said Rep. Ron Gerberry, D-59th District. “I have been working on trying to get Nitro's Law [HB 108], which would specifically deal with animal abuse in kennels now for two terms.”

Gerberry said the bill has not yet made it to the state Senate. He originally wanted the law to apply to most, if not all, animal owners. It would allow animal abuse charges to go from a misdemeanor to a fifth degree felony…see video

Letter from Rep. Sears to Columbus Dispatch, “Bill takes confusion out of vicious-dog law”

Breed-specific legislation does not protect the public. If anyone truly believes that Substitute House Bill 14 doesn’t do a better job of protecting the public than current law, I suggest they read the bill…more

Ohio House OKs increasing animal cruelty penalties

Representatives voted 88-7 on Tuesday to increase the penalty for second and subsequent animal cruelty violations from a second-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor…more