Senate Bill #221 has been introduced to the Ohio legislature. It can be viewed at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=124_SB_221 The underlined parts outline proposed changes to current statutes. The summary is >To amend sections 109.73, 959.99, 1717.06, and 2151.421 and to enact >sections 959.131, 959.132, and 959.133 of the Revised Code to prohibit >specified acts with respect to a companion animal, to establish a >procedure for the care of an impounded companion animal during the >pendency of charges against a person who violates the prohibition, >to require training for humane agents, to increase the penalty for >committing certain offenses against animals if the commission of the >offense also involves criminal trespass, and to establish requirements >concerning the reporting by certain authorities of abuse or neglect of >animals or children. I have not had a chance to fully read and digest this, but one section reads: >"Companion animal" means any animal that is kept inside a residential >dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept. "Companion >animal" does not include livestock. I would prefer it says "any dog, cat or ferret regardless..." Still, it is much better than what is currently in force in Ohio. For example, recently a young boy's dog was shot by a neighbor for wandering onto his property. The dog was not being aggressive towards the man or any other animals. This man had shot another dog on his property a couple years ago. The authorities are not sure if he can be charged with anything. I urge other Ohioans to check this out and urge their representatives to support it. Linda Iroff Oberlin OH [Posted in FML issue 3674]