Nitro's bill, prompted by starved dogs at East Side kennel, is dead

COLUMBUS — State lawmakers will adjourn for the year without acting on legislation prompted by an incident at a former Youngstown kennel.

Substitute House Bill 70, known as Nitro's bill, passed the Ohio House almost a year ago on a split vote, then stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate without a hearing.

The House is not expected to have another voting session this year, and the Ohio Senate plans to meet again next week to act on other issues.

The bill was offered by Democratic Reps. Ron Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, and Bob Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, after an October 2008 incident in which humane agents found 15 dogs dead or dying at the High Caliber K-9 on Coitsville-Hubbard Road in Youngstown.

The kennel operator initially faced 19 counts of cruelty to animals, but those charges were later reduced to four with misdemeanor penalties.

The proposed legislation would have enabled prosecutors to seek felony charges against kennel owners who abuse animals in their care. About 45 other states already rank animal-cruelty charges as felonies.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com