new Ohio legislation

This is a good place to inform fellow hunters about bills and other legislation that may jeopardize our rights to hunt and free cast our hounds.

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Boomer

new Ohio legislation

Post by Boomer »

I was in Cleveland last week, and there was an article in the paper about Ohio stiffening it's animal cruelty punishments for the first time in 125 years. Creutly to hunting dogs is exempt, and it was stated in the article that similar laws had failed in the past because of the hunting lobby and that this one only passed because it excluded hunting dogs (and livestock, too). Exactly what am I missing here? What hunting groups were opposed to this, and why? I can either try to find the article or type it in myself, if that helps anyone.

Bob Kane
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2002 2:19 pm
Location: Virginia
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Post by Bob Kane »

Here's a partial description of the proposed law, which I can't vouch for.
The bill exempts hunters as long as they are using
generally-accepted practices, but does not exempt dog breeders, trainers,
and exhibitors. Therefore, breeders, trainers, and exhibitors could be
subject to prosecution for practices such as tail docking and the use of
electronic collars and could lose the use of debarking and ear cropping if
vets bow to pressure that labels these practices inhumane.

Second, the bill requires that a dog's primary enclosure provide room for
it to stand up to its full height, turn around, stretch out, and lie down
comfortably. Travel crates are exempt from this requirement DURING TRAVEL
ONLY. There's no definition of 'primary'; it could mean the dog's housing
on the home property or could refer to the primary housing for the day.
Therefore, if we arrive at a dog show, put the travel crate in the grooming
area, and put the dog in the crate, we can be in violation.

There's also no consideration for boarding kennels that use small indoor
runs that are little more than cages and exercise dogs on a leash or in an
outside area. It also fails to take into consideration that new designs in
shelters include indoor runs only, some of them too small to provide either
adequate space or adequate exercise.

Third, the bill includes felony penalties for a second conviction of
torture, etc.

The bill covers all cats and all dogs and other pets kept in a residence.
Thus animals other than cats and dogs are not protected in breeding
facilities, pet stores, or outbuildings. There's no exemption for stray or
feral cats, so if a farmer allows a cat colony to live in his barn, he
could be responsible for abiding by the standards of care in the bill.

Finally, there's also a change in language in the section that sets up the
training program for humane agents. Originally, the OSU College of
Veterinary Medicine was given approval of the course. Now they play a
subordinate role of providing recommendations 'if any,' leaving the door
open for HSUS to contract to provide the training.

travel
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2002 3:44 am
Location: Ohio

Post by travel »

Here is a link that might be helpful. Obviously from a different perspective. Bob has already covered most all of the ground. From this page I think you can find how the word cruelty has been redefined or how it has been twisted. Or what the media reports and/or distorts.

http://www.ddal.org/StatePages/ohio.html
"The best view of big government is in the rear view mirror as you are driving away from it" -- Ronald Reagan

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