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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > March > 03 > Entry
Combs re-submits animal cruelty bill
Press release from state Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton:
State Representatives Courtney Combs (R-Hamilton) and Brian G. Williams (D-Akron) announced today the introduction of House Bill 55. The two legislators re-introduced this legislation from the last General Assembly where it was HB 418.
This legislation would increase the penalties of cruelty to animals, requires mandatory evaluation of minors who torture or abuse animals, and includes pets in court protection orders issued by a judge in domestic violence cases.
“HB 55 will fill the gaps in current law where horrible, and many times avoidable, situations can result in tragedy and mistreatment of animals,” Rep. Williams said. “The legislation accomplishes this through two main components: it assures that proper evaluation and counseling is provided to children that are guilty of abusing helpless animals, and it provides protection for animals caught in domestic violence situations. Research supports that both of these situations occur frequently. I am glad to be introducing legislation that can help put an end to that.”
Studies show that people who commit violence toward animals as children have a greater chance of being violent towards humans later in life. This legislation would require that any child under 18 convicted of cruelty of an animal undergo a mandatory psychological evaluation. If individual or family counseling is recommended by the evaluation it requires the court to order the child to attend counseling and determine the frequency and length of treatment.
“The current penalties for animal abuse in Ohio are no more than a slap on the wrist and do nothing to punish the abuser or prevent future acts,” Combs said. “In addition, current law does not connect the dots between children abusing animals and the potential for future violence.”
Under this bill judges would be allowed to include any companion animal that is in the complainant’s or alleged victim’s residence in the protection order. Five different studies determined that up to 71 percent of battered women reported that their pets have been threatened, harmed, or killed by their partners and that many battered women do not leave a dangerous situation because they fear for their pet’s safety.
“Public outcry and calls for increased penalties from officials across the state have led to this demand for change. This bill would go a long way towards reducing and preventing cases of animal abuse here in Ohio,” said Combs.
Williams and Combs’ bill will be referred to a committee this week and hearings will begin soon after.
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