Advocate for bestiality law gets warm reception from Warren council
Proposal stems from a Warren man’s recent animal-cruelty conviction
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Animal advocate Jason Cooke of Boardman got a warm response from city council Wednesday to his proposal for Warren to approve a bestiality law.
Cooke, fresh from a visit to Columbus on Tuesday to testify before a committee considering three pieces of statewide animal legislation, used the example of a Warren man convicted of animal cruelty last week to explain why a bestiality law is needed.
“There wasn’t a law against what he did,” Cooke said of Salvador Rendon, 61, formerly of Ward Avenue Northwest, whose family accused him of having sex with two boxer dogs that lived at the residence with him, his wife and his daughter.
Rendon pleaded no contest in Warren Municipal Court and was convicted of animal cruelty. He was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail with the potential to get an additional 60 days if he doesn’t meet the requirements of his five years of probation, which included mental-health counseling.
Cooke noted that no one will ever be able to look up Rendon’s criminal record and know that he had sex with dogs because the law he was convicted under was animal cruelty, not bestiality. Ohio is one of 11 states in the country that has not outlawed sex with animals, Cooke said.
Rendon should have been convicted of two counts of bestiality, but because Ohio and Warren have no bestiality law, prosecutors went with animal cruelty. Rendon was convicted on that charge because there was evidence one of the two dogs suffered an injury to its rectal area, Cooke said.
“It’s not a pleasant topic to talk about,” Cooke said.
With a bestiality ordinance, prosecutors would not have to show that the animal was injured, as is required for animal cruelty, only that a person had sex with the animal, Cooke said. The penalty also would be stronger under the model ordinance Cooke gave the city.
Cooke worked with a Cleveland attorney, who wrote a model bestiality ordinance that Cooke hopes many of the 931 municipal corporations – cities and villages – in Ohio will use to pass their own law. He said he’s had positive reaction from several other communities, but Warren could be the first to have it, Cooke said.
“I don’t think any of us knew that bestiality wasn’t illegal,” Councilman Eddie Colbert said. He was speaking at the 45-minute caucus meeting held before the full council meeting.
“I think it’s awesome what you’ve done,” Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold added.
Law Director Greg Hicks said people who know him know he believes in protecting animals.
“It’s a matter of doing it right the first time, especially if you are leading the way,” Hicks said. “I have no problem with presenting something for council consideration.“