The Cleveland Plain Dealer is publishing a series of articles this week called "Throwaway pets: How we break our bond". The Sunday issue focused on animal shelters. Today's articles are about Ohio's animal cruelty laws, or lack thereof. Ohio's laws are considered by many the laxest in the country, and efforts are once again underway to change this. Links to some of the newspaper articles are listed below. State Senator David Goodman is introducing a bill that will strengthen penalties for abuse, and define animal neglect. "For the first time, cats and dogs will have a legal right to enough food and water, proper ventilation, shelter, exercise and living space." NOT covered are farm or work animals, including hunting dogs. I spoke to someone in Sen Goodman's office, and the wording of the bill is actually to cover all companion animals that live in the home, thus ferrets would be included. Note that some Amish use ferrets in their barn as ratters, and trying to include them would weaken chances of passing the bill. It is the very strong farm lobby that has blocked passage of such bills in the past, hence the exclusion of working and farm animals. The bill will be introduced on Jan 24. It will be online shortly thereafter, I'll post the link when I have it. Sen Goodman's office suggested people write letters to the editor of their papers in support of the bill, as well as contacting their state representative and expressing support. The paper says you can contact your state rep by calling 800-282-0253. Sen Goodman's office can be reached at 614-466-8064. Overcrowded, overwhelmed http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/ html_standard.xsl?/base/living/10103130122136138.xml Even exotic pets lose their appeal http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/ html_standard.xsl?/base/living/10103130132136139.xml Cruelty law one of nation's weakest http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/ html_standard.xsl?/base/living/10103994291831488.xml Animal and human abuse linked http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/ html_standard.xsl?/base/living/101040660047101.xml Linda Iroff Oberlin OH [Posted in FML issue 3656]