Some good news from Ohio (Animal Cruelty laws)

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I just heard about this!

Press Release

Brian G. Williams, State Representative, District 41

Rep. Williams Proposes Tougher Animal Cruelty Law

AKRON, Ohio – State Representative Brian G. Williams, D-Akron , announced today that he is reintroducing legislation that would impose tougher penalties on animal cruelty and require psychological counseling when youngsters are involved.

Williams said his forthcoming bill is similar to House Bill 613; legislation he introduced last June. The 126th General Assembly came to a close before H.B. 613 bill was enacted, but Williams said he’s more optimistic about the chances of passage this legislative session.

Currently, animal cruelty is a second degree misdemeanor in Ohio . In cases involving companion animals such as a dog or a cat: it is a first degree misdemeanor; and a fifth-degree felony for repeat offenders.

Williams would ratchet up these penalties to a first degree misdemeanor in all cases, and a fifth-degree felony for the first offense involving a companion animal.

“It seems we hear about an atrocity against animals every few days on the news, and many Ohioans have contacted me to express their outrage,” Williams said. “Obviously we can do more to punish these sick crimes, and to help young people before they move on to even worse crimes.”

Of equal importance, Williams said, is language in his bill that would require judges to order psychological counseling on the first offense, for children aged 15 or under, who commit cruelty against a companion animal.

Many experts have noted that serial killers abused animals earlier in life. The American Psychological Association Triangle reports in their Behavior Triangle that animal cruelty, fire-starting, and bedwetting are part of their proven past and present behavior indicators of future and accelerated negative behaviors. Substance abuse is currently being considered as a 4th leg. Williams said he has long been struck by that fact that Jeffrey Dahmer’s record indicated animal mutilation as a teen growing up in Bath. (continued)

(sorry, I have no link to this story) ...

“Imagine all the pain that might have been averted had he been helped psychologically at that time,” said Williams a former teacher and superintendent of the Akron schools. “My hope is that this legislation might stop a future tragedy.”

Advocates for the humane treatment of animals have praised Williams’ proposal, which they say would bring Ohio more into line with animal cruelty penalties in other states.

“It is time for Ohio to become equal with other states regarding cruelty to animals,” said Kellie DiFrischia, director of ColumbusDogConnection.com, an organization devoted to rescuing abused or abandoned dogs. The counseling component, she said, “will hopefully stop behavior that usually turns into a life long pattern of abuse against people and animals.”

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I do believe Ohio will soon be passing some animal welfare/protection laws soon hopefully as the pressure against the acts going on in Ohio have been having an effect (report all atrocities to the Representatives and Senators of the State of Ohio). However, I believe that the root of the problem is the dog auctions that are STILL going on in Ohio (and in other places too).

I've ordered up a batch of videos re: puppy mills that I plan to distribute FOR FREE to all of those out there that need to know what they are and what they are doing to our favorite friends in life, dogs and cats (puppies and kittens). Educate, educate, educate! :)

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/

[peacebuzzard]

1. CAV, this issue needs all the support you can recruit.

I am glad the puppy mills have a strong advocate like you. Nice to see your post today....
Peace, friend.

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2. I'm working on this still peacebuzzard

I'm really hoping that Ohio does something. They are getting hundreds of calls and letters a day (the politicians that is) regarding these awful puppy mills and dog/cat auctions going on in Ohio. People in Ohio don't like it anymore than I/we do!

I'm not finding a whole lot of help much, but still I go on with this after what happened and I have no intentions of stopping anytime soon. I've just ordered up a batch of puppy mill videos to distribute to certain people that need to know about them.

Thanks for the support and kind words. I really hope to see these places disappear in the future before all of our animal friends, dogs and cats alike, end up with the genes from these awful mills. It doesn't take long, only a few years given the lifespan of a dog or a cat sadly to contaminate a species forever.

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