Our mission is to help make
animal cruelty a felony in Ohio!
Ohio is one of the only 50 states left to not have
a first offense
felony provision for animal cruelty,
leaving only misdemeanor provisions
regardless
of the severity of the crimes.
The list of infractions
against innocent companion
animals ranks the state of Ohio as one of the
worst.
NITRO'S LAW is the legacy and testament in honor of a
family's Rottweiler, Nitro, who was 1 of 8 dogs that died in a tragic
crime in a K9 training facility in Youngstown, Ohio. Nitro's Law was
created as a felony provision and proactive legislative measure to
increase the outdated misdemeanor-only provisions and penalties
currently in place for animal crimes in the state of Ohio.
In February 2009 'Nitro's Law' was introduced and passed the Ohio House of Representatives and was assigned to the Ohio Senate's Criminal Justice Committee for consideration and for nearly 1 year this landmark Bill was grossly ignored by the Ohio Senate. On December 31, 2010, Nitro's Law ceased to exist and as of today, still has yet to be reintroduced.
On October 22, 2008 an elite dog training & boarding facility 'High Caliber K9' in Youngstown, Ohio was raided. Steve Croley owner & trainer of High Caliber was arrested, charged and convicted on just 4 misdemeanor infractions for starving 19 dogs, 8 of which died. This was just one more crime of horrendous proportions to add to the list of Ohio's growing atrocities of abuse committed against defenseless animals.
A total of 19 dogs suffered extreme starvation and 8 of them lost their lives; 1 Rottweiler, 3 Doberman Pinschers, 1 American Pit Bull Terrier, 1 Border Collie, and 2 German Shepherds. Each of these dogs had a family and came from all over the United States and abroad for elite K9 training only to end up deliberately starved to death in their kennels at High Caliber. The owners of these dogs paid fortunes to ensure their care, only to have them suffer depraved acts of cruelty and neglect.
In February 2009 'Nitro's Law' was introduced and passed the Ohio House of Representatives and was assigned to the Ohio Senate's Criminal Justice Committee for consideration and for nearly 1 year this landmark Bill was grossly ignored by the Ohio Senate. On December 31, 2010, Nitro's Law ceased to exist and as of today, still has yet to be reintroduced.
On October 22, 2008 an elite dog training & boarding facility 'High Caliber K9' in Youngstown, Ohio was raided. Steve Croley owner & trainer of High Caliber was arrested, charged and convicted on just 4 misdemeanor infractions for starving 19 dogs, 8 of which died. This was just one more crime of horrendous proportions to add to the list of Ohio's growing atrocities of abuse committed against defenseless animals.
A total of 19 dogs suffered extreme starvation and 8 of them lost their lives; 1 Rottweiler, 3 Doberman Pinschers, 1 American Pit Bull Terrier, 1 Border Collie, and 2 German Shepherds. Each of these dogs had a family and came from all over the United States and abroad for elite K9 training only to end up deliberately starved to death in their kennels at High Caliber. The owners of these dogs paid fortunes to ensure their care, only to have them suffer depraved acts of cruelty and neglect.
What YOU can do to help!
~ Call or write your Ohio Representative to have the bill reintroduced into Senate
~ Call or write your Ohio Representative to have the bill reintroduced into Senate
A letter from Ronald V. Gerberry (State Representative, 59th House District)
Mr. Gerberry was surprised that the unbelievable animal cruelty that took place did not warrant much starker penalties. With that in mind, he recently met with the Legislative Service Commission to develop legislation that increases punishment/ penalties on individuals who abuse animals. Specifically, his proposal will make animal abuse a 5th degree felony.
Below is the letter available for download.
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