Nitro Foundation announced today that Nitro's Law (H.B.90) has been reintroduced to the Ohio House for 2013. Nitro Foundation and animal advocates have been trying to get Nitro's Law through the Ohio legislative process for four years. First it was introduced as HB70, then HB108.
Today, Representative Ronald Gerberry (D) walked the bill through the introduction process, standing there every step of the way to fast track it. Gerberry wants to move the bill to the Ohio Senate as quickly as possible. The bill has 20 cosponsors this year, 13 Democrats, and 7 Republicans.
In 2011 and 2012 the bill made it through the House and languished and died in the Senate. The feeling has been that like in other farm states, the agricultural lobby is working to keep stronger animal cruelty bills from passing into law. Although the Ohio Agricultural Committee has stated that they are not against Nitro's Law, they clearly do not support it. Advocates are hopeful that with a new Senate leader this year, the bill will finally be brought the Senate floor for a vote.
RELATED:
- Ohio House to Review Animal Cruelty Law
- The Clock is Ticking on Nitro's Law
- The Sad Failure of Ohio's Legislators to Protect Pets
Nitro's Law seeks to make animal cruelty by a caretaker a 5th degree felony in Ohio. Although there is already a felony cruelty statute in Ohio for second offenders, it has never been used because the language of the statute is too full of loopholes.
Nitro's Law is named for a Rottweiler who died at the training facility High Caliber K9 in Mahoning County, Ohio when the owner of the facility stopped feeding the animals in his care. In all, eight dogs died.
For more information about Nitro's Law and the circumstances that prompted the creation of the bill, visit the Nitro Foundation website.
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