Keith Mack
Goddard's Law, H.B. 274, was named after Dick Goddard, a meteorologist and animal activist from Ohio. The law amends Nitro's Law, which made animal cruelty a misdemeanor of the first degree on the first offense for dog kennel owners and staff. Under Goddard's Law, it would be a felony of the fifth degree on the first offense for anyone to knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal. This law is another incremental step to improve Ohio's animal cruelty laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Goddard's Law, H.B. 274 |
| Named After | Dick Goddard, a weather anchor for WJW Channel 8 in Cleveland, Ohio |
| Profession | Meteorologist, author, cartoonist, and animal activist |
| Aim | To strengthen Ohio's animal welfare laws and protect companion animals |
| Companion Animal Definition | Any animal kept in a residence and any dog or cat regardless of location |
| Offense | Felony of the 5th degree on the first offense for causing serious physical harm to a companion animal |
| Serious Physical Harm Definition | Physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death, involves permanent incapacity, or causes prolonged pain and suffering |
| Previous Law | Misdemeanor of the first degree on the first offense for cruelty to a companion animal |
| Amendments | Includes negligence by dog rescue and kennel owners, such as deprivation of food, water, and adequate shelter |
| Related Laws | Nitro's Law, which made animal cruelty a misdemeanor for dog kennel owners and staff |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Named after Dick Goddard, an animal activist
Goddard's Law, H.B. 274, is named after Dick Goddard, a beloved weather anchor and meteorologist for WJW Channel 8 in Cleveland, Ohio. Dick Goddard was an animal activist and advocate, and many Ohioans considered him a hero for his efforts to strengthen Ohio's weak animal welfare laws.
Goddard's Law makes it a felony of the fifth degree on the first offence for anyone to "knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal". Serious physical harm is defined as "physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death", "physical harm that involves either partial or total permanent incapacity", or "physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain".
The law also makes it a crime for anyone to negligently "torture, torment, or commit an act of cruelty against a companion animal", deprive the animal of good, wholesome food and water, or deprive the animal of adequate shelter from the weather if it can reasonably be expected that the animal will become sick or suffer. These crimes are misdemeanours of the second degree on the first offence and a misdemeanour of the first degree on each subsequent offence.
Goddard's Law is an amendment to Nitro's Law, which made animal cruelty a misdemeanour of the first degree on the first offence for dog kennel owners and staff. Goddard's Law extends this felony crime to include dog rescues and boarding and training dog kennel owners and staff.
Who Creates Budget Laws? Presidential Power Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Amends Nitro's Law to include animal neglect
Nitro's Law, named after Nitro, a dog who died in the custody of an Ohio dog kennel, strengthened Ohio's animal cruelty laws by making it a crime for any animal caretaker to negligently commit or omit any act that causes unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering to a companion animal. Under Nitro's Law, the negligent act or omission must be one of "torture, torment, unnecessary mutilation or maiming, cruel beating, poison or unnecessary killing", or deprivation of necessary and good, wholesome food and water or access to shelter if the animal would reasonably be expected to become sick or suffer without it.
Goddard's Law, named after Dick Goddard, a beloved weather anchor for WJW Channel 8 in Cleveland, Ohio, amends Nitro's Law to include animal neglect. Under Goddard's Law, it would be a felony of the 5th degree on the first offense for anyone to "knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal". "Serious physical harm" is defined as "physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death", "physical harm that involves either partial or total permanent incapacity", or "physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain".
Goddard's Law would also amend the crime of negligence that is now applicable only to dog kennel owners and staff. Under Goddard's Law, they could be charged with negligence in the event of deprivation of sufficient, good, wholesome food and water, or deprivation of adequate shelter if it can be reasonably expected that the animal will suffer. These crimes would be misdemeanors of the second degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense. If the animal dies, the crime would be a felony of the fifth degree.
Goddard's Law is another incremental step to improve Ohio's animal cruelty laws for companion animals. Companion animals include any animal kept in a residence and any dog or cat regardless of where they are kept, including those held in pet stores.
The Quota System: Laws Create Unfair Challenges
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Defines serious physical harm
Goddard's Law, named after Dick Goddard, a beloved weather anchor for WJW Channel 8 in Cleveland, Ohio, prohibits a person from "knowingly causing serious physical harm to a companion animal". The bill defines "serious physical harm" as:
- Physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death.
- Physical harm that involves either partial or total permanent incapacity.
- Physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.
- Physical harm that results from a person who confines or who is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal depriving the companion animal of good, wholesome food and water that proximately causes the death of the companion animal.
It can be difficult to prove "substantial risk of death", "substantial suffering" or "prolonged pain" when it comes to an animal. The bill also revises the definition of "companion animal" to specifically include dogs and cats kept in pet stores for the purposes of the Offenses Relating to Domestic Animals Law.
Monopoly Laws: Why Governments Intervene
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$71.41 $84
Protects people helping animals in emergencies
Goddard's Law, named after Dick Goddard, a beloved weather anchor and animal advocate from Ohio, is a law that strengthens animal cruelty penalties and protects people who try to help animals in emergencies.
The law makes it a felony of the fifth degree on the first offense for anyone to "knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal". "Serious physical harm" is defined as harm that carries a substantial risk of death, involves permanent incapacity, or causes prolonged pain and suffering. This is a significant step forward in the protection of companion animals, as previously, offenders could only be charged with a fifth-degree felony for subsequent acts of animal cruelty.
Goddard's Law also amends the existing Nitro's Law, which made animal cruelty a misdemeanor for dog kennel owners and staff. Under Goddard's Law, anyone who negligently commits an act of cruelty, deprives a companion animal of sufficient food, water, or adequate shelter, can be charged with a misdemeanor of the second degree on the first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense. If the animal dies, the crime becomes a felony of the fifth degree.
To protect people helping animals in emergencies, there are specific steps that rescuers must follow. These include making a good-faith effort to contact the appropriate authorities, such as the police or emergency responders, before and after breaking into a vehicle to remove an animal or child. Rescuers must also leave information on the vehicle notifying the owner of the location of the animal and the authorities that have been contacted, as well as their own contact information. Additionally, the rescuer must remain with the animal in a safe location until help arrives. These protections ensure that individuals can take immediate action to help animals in distress without fear of legal repercussions.
Overall, Goddard's Law is an important piece of legislation that not only strengthens penalties for animal cruelty but also provides legal protection for individuals who intervene to help animals in emergency situations, filling a gap in Ohio's animal welfare laws and ensuring the safety and well-being of companion animals.
Unlocking Mendel's Law of Unit Factors
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Passed in Ohio in 2016
Goddard's Law, passed in Ohio in 2016, is named after Dick Goddard, a meteorologist and animal welfare advocate. Goddard was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1931 and grew up on a small farm in Greensburg, Ohio (now called Green). He had a long career as a meteorologist, working for various news stations in Cleveland, Ohio, including WJW Channel 8, where he was a beloved weather anchor.
Goddard was also known for his animal advocacy and had a particular interest in strengthening Ohio's animal welfare laws, which many saw as too weak. He was involved in creating the Woollybear Festival, a family event dedicated to teaching children about weather, fun, and animals.
Goddard's Law amends Ohio's previous animal cruelty laws, making it a felony of the fifth degree on the first offense for anyone to "knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal". This includes acts such as torture, torment, or any other form of cruelty that results in substantial suffering or prolonged pain for the animal. The law also clarifies that companion animals include any cats or dogs, regardless of where they are kept, and any animal kept in a residence.
The bill for Goddard's Law, H.B. 274, was first passed out of the House of Representatives in December 2013 but stalled at the committee level. It was finally signed into law by Governor John Kasich in June 2016, along with two other bills strengthening animal cruelty penalties and protecting people who help animals in emergencies. This was a significant step forward for animal protection in Ohio, ensuring that punishments better aligned with the severity of crimes against animals.
Post-9/11 Laws: Helpful or Harmful?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Goddard's Law is legislation that strengthens Ohio's animal cruelty laws. It amends Nitro's Law to make it a crime for anyone to negligently torture, torment, or commit an act of cruelty against a companion animal.
Goddard's Law is named after Dick Goddard, a beloved weather anchor for WJW Channel 8 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was also an animal activist.
Under Goddard's Law, it is a felony of the fifth degree on the first offense for anyone to "knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal". The law also specifies that depriving a companion animal of good, wholesome food and water, or adequate shelter, is a form of cruelty.
Goddard's Law, H.B. 274, was passed by the House of Representatives in December 2013 and was assigned to the Senate Agriculture Committee. The bill stalled at the committee level, and as of 2016, hearings were yet to be scheduled.
