one green planet
one green planet

The Ohio Senate just passed a bill that would prohibit animal shelters from using gas chambers to euthanize animals. The bill, which passed unanimously, was sponsored by Senator Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, and Senator Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, and will now move on to the House to be voted on there. If passed, the current law that allows shelters to kill animals using carbon monoxide gas would change, and there would be increased penalties for animal cruelty cases.

Senator Hottinger was planning on introducing more severe penalties for those connected to animal abuse when Senator Yuko started to work on legislation to outlaw gas chamber euthanasia. That’s when they decided to team up to create a bipartisan bill.

The bill would also change the mental state of animal abusers from knowingly to recklessly in cases where they do not provide food or water to the animal, which makes it easier to prosecute. Physically harming a pet would also be considered a violent crime.

Senator Hottinger said that animal abuse can be indicative of future crimes, and calling it a violent offense will allow the judge to impose prison time, and the charge would not be allowed to be expunged from the record.

“(The bill is) the next step to protect not only, you know, our pets, our companion animals, but also I think it really does serve as a significant protection against future crimes against humanity as well,” Hottinger said.

Source: FOX 13 News Utah/Youtube

Although there are no animal shelters in Ohio still using gas chambers, the bill is meant to make sure that no shelters will ever be able to use this method again. Many other states are still fighting for the end of gas chambers used in animal shelters.

Sign this petition that asks Congress to place a national ban on gas chambers in animal shelters.

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content.Click here to Support Us

Related Content:

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Also, don’t forget to download the Food Monster App on the App Store. With over 15,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest meatless, vegan, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy!

Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!