Ohio are you ready?????? The co-sponsor request below has just moments ago went out. We want to welcome Representative Dave Hall on board as a joint sponsor with our own Representative Bill Patmon!!! Goddards Law is just days away from being re-introduced!!! Share and crosspost!!!! MEMORANDUM TO: All House Members FROM: Representatives Bill Patmon and Dave Hall DATE: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 RE: Co-Sponsor Request – “Goddard’s Law” We will soon be reintroducing “Goddard’s Law” from the 130th General Assembly. This legislation will prohibit anyone from knowingly causing serious physical harm to a companion animal. A violation of this prohibition will result in a felony of the fifth degree. It will also prohibit any person who confines or is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal from negligently torturing, tormenting, or committing an act of cruelty against the companion animal. A violation of this prohibition will result in a misdemeanor of the second degree on the first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense. Please note this legislation does not include livestock or any wild animal. Ohio is ranked 34th in the United States for our animal protection laws. Illinois leads the rankings at 1st and our neighbor Michigan is 4th. Stories of the abuse and killing of companion animals have become all too common in our headlines. We’ve heard of a Cleveland resident who tied a bullmastiff to a tree, shot him in the jaw and chest, and then left him for dead. Forrest, the bullmastiff, lived and the man went to prison; however, it was only because he was a felon with prior convictions for rape, drug trafficking, and aggravated burglary in possession of a firearm. A man in Mansfield killed a kitten by breaking its neck in front of four, young boys. Multiple studies have shown a correlation between the abuse of companion animals, family violence and community violence, making it all the more imperative that we address this issue. During the last General Assembly, this bill passed the House with overwhelming support before languishing in the Senate. If you would like to co-sponsor this legislation, or if you have any questions or concerns regarding this legislation, please contact my Legislative Aide, Chynna Brady at 466-7954 or by email at [email protected] by 5:00PM Tuesday, January 13, 2015. Please note a hard copy will NOT follow.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 14:09:00 +0000
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