State Representative Tim Brown recently co-sponsored House Bill 215, which the Ohio House passed last week to expand the penalties associated with animal fighting. Specifically, the legislation makes it a felony to participate in various activities supporting animal fighting such as, betting on the results of an animal fight, purchasing tickets for an animal fight, or allowing a minor to be present at an animal fight.
The primary reason for House Bill 215 being introduced was to address the growing incidences of cockfighting, and animal bating to cause serious harm or death to an animal.
“These crimes are particularly gruesome and must come to an end. Those who perpetuate them must pay a steep penalty so that we can discourage others from even considering such acts in our State.” Representative Brown said.
Currently, Ohio has more lenient animal fighting laws than neighboring states, which has led to the increase in animal fighting rings. A large cockfighting ring was recently discovered in Fulton County and disbanded by local law enforcement. Seeing the perpetrators come into Ohio to engage in this activity is why legislators saw the need for Ohio to strengthen its laws on animal fighting.
House Bill 215 could elevate the penalties for cockfighting in Ohio to levels that are already in place in 42 states, including all of Ohio’s neighboring Great Lakes states. Additionally, while the bill addresses the activity of animal fighting itself, it also helps to reduce the criminal and illegal activities that often accompany animal fighting in communities around Ohio.
House Bill 215 now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
