HOUSE BILL215 – PROPONENT TESTIMONY OF

Mary O’Connor-Shaver, Representative

Angels for Animals, Animal Cruelty Task Force of Ohio, Joseph’s Legacy, Justice for Herbie, Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates, Nitro Foundation/Nitro’s Ohio Army, Ohio Voters for Companion Animals, Inc. and Paws and the Law

June 16, 2015 – House Judiciary Committee

Good morning Chairman Butler and Members of the House Judiciary Committee.

My name is Mary O’Connor-Shaver and I currently live in Lewis Center, Ohio (DelawareCounty). I am presentingwritten testimony on behalf of the following eight grassroots animal welfare organizations: Angels for Animals, Animal Cruelty Task Force of Ohio, Joseph’s Legacy, Justice for Herbie, Nitro Foundation/Nitro’s Ohio Army, Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates, Ohio Voters for Companion Animals, Inc. and Paws and the Lawas a proponent for Ohio House Bill 215.

Representing over 77,000 constituents across 81 Ohio counties, our eightOhio-citizen driven, community based organizations are the driving force behind legislative efforts to address issues impacting the health and safety of companion animals as defined under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 959. Our supporters include a diverse section of voters and taxpayers from across the state, including but not limited to, a broad range of dog enthusiasts, veterinarians, breeders, animal care and welfare organizations, animal control representatives, appointed humane agents, judges, attorneys, and government employees who understand state and federal governance.

Given our coalition’s dedication to educate and support the law enforcement and judicial communities in the enforcement and administration of Ohio's animal welfare laws, I want to begin my testimony by thanking Representatives Sears and Bishoff for their leadership in sponsoring this important piece of legislation for Ohioans.

Ohio and neighboring Kentucky have long had some of the weakest anti-cockfighting laws in the nation. The culture of tolerance for cockfighting in Ohio has caused it to become something of a hotbed for animal cruelty.

In May 2014, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office raided a cockfightand arrested 52 individuals, just nine of them from Ohio. The remaining 43 had come from Indiana and Michigan, both states that made cockfighting a felony years ago. This was more proof that weak anti-cockfighting laws with current penalties of a fourth degree misdemeanor and $250 fine only draw more criminals into Ohio.

While just eight states have misdemeanor penalties for illegalfights -- mainly in the “cockfighting corridor” (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi) -- 42 states have made cockfighting punishable as a felony offense. With the passage of the Farm Bill in February 2014, we've now witnessed the federal animal fighting law upgraded four times in the last 12 years.The new law makes attending a cockfight or dogfight a federal misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and $100,000 fine. It makes bringing a minor to such fights a federal felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Given these concerns, our coalition firmly believes the passage of HB 215 as introduced – which includes specific changes to ORC Sections 959.15 and 959.99 - would proactively address the criminal and illegal activities that often accompany organized animal fighting in communities around Ohio. Along with Representatives Sears and Bishoff, we strongly believe the proposed legislation represents a balanced, common sense approach to dealing with the inhumane treatment of animals being used in theseegregious acts of cruelty.

It is our hope this Committee will reflect on the opinions expressed by our eight groups and their supporters in today’s testimony prior to recommending Ohio House Bill 215for review and passage by the House Judiciary Committee.

As the representative for Angels for Animals, Animal Cruelty Task Force of Ohio, Joseph’s Legacy, Justice for Herbie, Nitro Foundation/Nitro’s Ohio Army, Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates, Ohio Voters for Companion Animals, Inc. and Paws and the Law, I greatly appreciate your time and consideration on this important piece of legislation for Ohioans, and I welcome any questions you may have.