Warren council approves Ohio's first bestiality law

WARREN

Warren City Council unanimously passed legislation Wednesday making bestiality a first-degree misdemeanor, the first such law in Ohio.

Ohio is one of 11 states in America that does not have a law making bestiality, defined as sex between a person and an animal, illegal.

Specifically, Warren’s law says no person shall knowingly engage in sexual conduct with an animal; knowingly possess, sell or purchase an animal with the intent that it be subjected to sexual conduct, or knowingly organize, promote, aide or abet in the conduct of an act involving any sexual conduct with an animal.

While passage of the bestiality ordinance was unanimous, when Councilman John Brown, D-3rd, asked that additional people outside the public comment segment of the meeting be allowed to speak on the ordinance, Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at large, and a couple of other lawmakers objected.

“I think council is prepared to vote without bringing undue attention to the issue. Bestiality is not an epidemic in out city,” Rucker said.

Nonetheless, council voted to permit several persons to speak, including Barbara Busco, co-founder of the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County.

Despite that the legislation begins with the statement that “Warren finds that there exists growing problems with bestiality within the city,” Busco said the “legislation in no way reflects on the people of Warren. You are showing you care by bringing legislation to the floor. I ask for passage.”

“Read more about the issue in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.