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Ohio weighing stricter animal abuse penalties

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By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
Those found guilty of abusing or neglecting animals in Ohio may face stiffer penalties if three bills recently introduced are passed.
More than 100 people came to support Ohio House Bill 22, introduced on what was called "Humane Lobby Day" in Columbus, would increase penalties for cruelty to animals from a misdemeanor to a felony and require children under 15 who abuse animals to undergo psychological counseling.
House Bill 415 would increase penalties for cockfighting to a fourth-degree felony and dogfighting to third-degree felony.
House Bill 418 also would increase penalties for animal abusers, but also would allow pets of victims of domestic violence to be included in protection orders.
Two of the bills are sponsored by Rep. Brian Williams of Akron.
Annette Fisher, executive director of Happy Trails Animal Sanctuary in Ravenna, said her non-profit organization is at full capacity for abused and neglected farm animals " at 150.
Last month, the Portage Animal Protective League removed four of the 20 horses at the Never Rest Ranch in Brimfield, after authorities found five dead horses on the 23-acre property. Four horses recovered from the Old Forge Road farm were suffering from severe malnutrition, one of which died. The remainder of the horses at the ranch were later ordered taken from the farm and placed with Happy Trails until the case is finished.
"We have heard so much from people about the Brimfield horse case," Fisher said. "But what are people doing to fix it?"
She said she encourages people to contact state legislators to and ask for updated and improved animal abuse laws. She said lawmakers could "make a huge step for Ohio."
"We have been at the bottom of the barrel for penalties for animal cruelty laws," she said. "I would think everyone would welcome these laws. All animals should be treated decently, whether the animals are raised for livestock or as a pets, they should all be protected from cruelty and abuse."
Dean Vickers, Ohio director of the Humane Society of the United States, said if passed, these laws will act as a deterrent from many crimes against animals.
He said Columbus recently had a case involving a man, who wanted to take revenge on his girlfriend for breaking up with him, nailed her pet parakeets to the wall of her home.
Cases like that, Vicker said, will no longer carry a misdemeanor charge with a $200 fine.
"Some prosecutors won't prosecute misdemeanor cases," he said. "People just don't get into as much trouble because the laws are so weak. The penalties need to be more severe."