Dear Senator Hite, Senator Hackett, Senator Gentile, Senator Beagle, Senator Skindell, Senator LaRose, Senator Cafaro, Senator Gardner, Senator Uecker, Senator Peterson, and Senator Burke,

As residents, voters and taxpayers of Ohio, we would like to see our state as a safe place for all Ohioans and visitors. Statistics show a strong correlation between animal abuse and the commission of other crimes. Recognizing this connection, we are asking for harsher penalties than our current Ohio laws afford.

Studies show that there is a connection between animal abuse and crimes such as rape, sexual homicide, domestic abuse and robbery. Notorious serial killers often have a history of animal abuse. One 21-year study found that 70 percent of animal abusers later went on to commit other crimes. The study also found that 100 percent of individuals who had committed sexual homicide had a history of animal abuse. About two-thirds of animal abusers also assaulted a person. 

Another study showed that individuals who abused animals were 500 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime and 300 percent more likely to commit crimes related to drugs when compared to individuals who also lived in the same area and who were of the same age and gender, but who had not abused animals.

Animal abuse often leads to abuse of others in the same household. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of victims of domestic violence say that their abusers started to abuse pets before they abused their later victims. Unfortunately, this often establishes a negative cycle of abuse because approximately one-third of abused children wind up abusing animals themselves.

For the sake of your own and your constituents' families, we urge you to please pass HB 60 (Goddard's Law) as it was written under HB 274 in the 2013-2014 130th Ohio General Assembly. Ohio desperately needs harsher penalties in ALL criminal cases involving acts of cruelty. HB 274 also allows Humane Societies to continue employing attorneys to prosecute felony animal cruelty crimes.   

Thank you for your consideration! 

Concerned Citizens

Feel free to call or email your lawmakers and express how you feel about animal cruelty laws in Ohio. Contact info below ......
Ohio Senate Agriculture Committee
Sen Cliff Hite, (R) Chair – (614) 466-8150  hite@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Bob Hackett, (R)  Vice Chair – (614) 466-3780  hackett@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Lou Gentile, (D) Ranking Minority Member – (614) 466-6508  gentile@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Bill Beagle (R) – (614) 466-6247 beagle@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Michael Skindell (D) – (614) 466-5123 skindell@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Frank LaRose (R) – (614) 466-4823 larose@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Capri Cafaro (D) – (614) 466-7182 cafaro@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Randy Gardner  (R) – (614) 466-8060 gardner@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Joe Uecker, (R) – (614) 466-8082 uecker@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Bob Peterson, (R) – (614) 466-8156 peterson@ohiosenate.gov
Sen Dave Burke, (R) – (614) 466-8049 burke@ohiosenate.gov