Supporters of legislation known as "Nitro's Law" scored a victory Wednesday in Columbus as House Bill 108 passed the Ohio House by a vote of 78-9.
The measure has been presented to members of the House before and even passed the House once and later died in the State Senate. Bill sponsor and State Rep. Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown, is hopeful this time will be different.
"It was 78-9 and that is a very strong vote coming out of the House and I'm looking forward to getting it over to the Senate," Gerberry said. "The owners of Nitro, they live in Manhattan, would be very pleased that we passed this.
The Senate will still have to vote and approve the measure before it can be signed into law, but supporters said Wednesday's vote is a big step in the right direction.
"The more momentum we can keep people going to move in that direction, the better we are. It shouldn't be a misdemeanor that somebody can abuse any life at all," said Katie Costello, owner of The Learning Dog Training and Enrichment Center in Hubbard.
The bill as passed applies only to kennel owners and animal caretakers. If signed into law, cruelty and abuse would become a fifth-degree felony. Costello said she is happy to see the ball rolling but would like more.
"The hope is we can continue that and say any abuse is abuse and it doesn't matter what form it is or where you are at, what building you are sitting in. It is still abuse," Costello said.
Gerberry said he already has spoken with senators to try and prevent the bill from stalling again.
"As soon as it gets over into the Senate, I talked to Sen. Schiavoni and also Sen. Bill Coley today and yesterday and I am going to work very hard to get this accomplished in 2012," Gerberry said.
Gerberry said the bill must pass the Senate this year, before the next general assembly, or the process will have to start all over again.
