In 2012, Ohio joined 49 states and nearly every country in the world when it removed its breed-specific language from state law. “Pit bull” type dogs were no longer considered “vicious” from birth. Today, the Ohio Revised Code defines a “vicious dog” as a dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person…
House Bill 274, which aims to make Ohio’s most serious animal cruelty crimes a felony on a first offense, passed the Ohio House of Representatives on December 11, 2013. The vote was 84-8. As passed by the House and outlined in Ohio Legislative Service Commission’s Bill Summary, HB 274 now: • Prohibits any person from…
Update on State v. Antoinette Kuenzer, a case we prosecuted for the Medina County SPCA in the Medina Municipal Court. Kuenzer was recently sentenced on her conviction for animal cruelty for starving two horses. Kuenzer was sentenced to 90 days in jail. Kuenzer served 28 days. 62 days were suspended contingent upon successful completion of…
Today Mike McIntyre of WCPN 90.3’s program The Sound of Ideas hosted a discussion on Goddard’s Law, Ohio H.B. 274. Attorney J. Jeffrey Holland, who drafted the initial Bill, was a featured guest. Courtesy of WCPN 90.3, this program can be heard using the player below.
Here is a summary of proposed Ohio House Bill 274: Holland & Muirden’s Summary of Goddard’s Law “M” stands for misdemeanor. “F” stands for felony. In the state of Ohio, misdemeanors and felonies are categorized by degrees. Punishments for each degree are limited by Ohio law. A felony of the fifth degree carries a maximum…