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Gov. John Kasich...
Executive Order on
Dangerous Wild Animals
Includes Letters of Support from Columbus Zoo and Zoological
Association of America
Existing, Underused Legal Powers Tapped While Longer-Term Legal
Solution Finalized
Fact Sheet
In response to the recent tragedy in Muskingum County involving
dangerous wild animals, Gov. John R. Kasich issued an Executive Order
instructing state agencies to use existing but underused legal powers
in innovative ways to address threats to animal welfare and public
health and safety, as well as better support the enforcement efforts of
local officials.
EXISTING BUT UNDERUSED LEGAL AUTHORITY WILL BE APPLIED IN INNOVATIVE
WAYS: The governor instructed Administration officials to scour Ohio
law for existing powers to regulate animal welfare and protect the
public’s health and safety and several powerful legal tools were
identified, but appear to be underused. Ohio will work with local
law enforcement and public officials, as well as humane societies, to
better apply existing animal welfare and public health laws in
innovative, aggressive ways until more specific laws regulating wild
animals are enacted.
· Humane Societies: Since 1953, Ohio law has given humane
societies broad authority—including arrest authority—to enforce Ohio’s
animal welfare laws, in coordination with local officials. Ohio
will work with the state and county humane societies and local
officials to better use these existing powers for the benefit of animal
welfare.
· Public Health and Safety: The Ohio Department of
Health and local health officials currently have broad powers to
protect the public health and safety. Given the risk that
dangerous wild animals potentially pose to the public, the Department
of Health will work with local health officials to identify where
potential risks exist and better enforce current laws to defend against
them.
ALL EXISTING NATIVE WILD ANIMAL PERMITS WILL BE REVIEWED: The Ohio
Department of Natural Resources regulates ownership of dangerous wild
animals native to Ohio. ODNR will review existing permits to
ensure proper compliance and perform onsite inspections to the fullest
extent possible with existing resources, and additional resource needs
will be identified for future enforcement efforts.
WILD ANIMAL AUCTIONS WILL BE RESTRICTED AND ANY UNLICENSED AUCTIONS
WILL BE SHUT DOWN: The Ohio Department of Agriculture will use its
existing authority to regulate auctions to pursue agreements with
auction houses that trade in dangerous wild animals to impose a
temporary moratorium on their sale. Additionally, the Department
will work with the US Department of Agriculture, local law enforcement,
veterinarians and humane societies to enforce existing laws and to
identify and shut down unlicensed auctions.
OHIO WILL WORK WITH ZOOS TO IDENTIFY SAFE PLACES TO KEEP CONFISCATED OR
IMPOUNDED DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS: A safe and appropriate location to
house confiscated or impounded dangerous wild animals is essential to
enforcing existing animal cruelty and public health laws, as well as
future Ohio laws regulating these animals. Ohio will work with
zoos to identify their ability to accept animals that are confiscated
or impounded and help meet their needs.
NEW LEGAL POWERS WILL BE PROPOSED BY NOVEMBER 30: A task force
including representatives of the Humane Society of the United States,
county prosecutors, and veterinarians—led by the Department of Natural
Resources—has been crafting a new legal framework for the General
Assembly’s consideration that would give Ohio the authority to regulate
dangerous wild animals. That task force will complete its work
and submit its report by November 30.
OHIO WILL WORK WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Ohio will establish toll-free hotline and website
and work with local law enforcement agencies, veterinarians, county
humane societies, and other stakeholders to identify potential problem
locations where dangerous wild animals are kept so that the appropriate
authorities can ensure all existing laws and regulations are being
followed and enforced.
A COPY OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER CAN BE VIEWED HERE
See Columbus Zoo Letter of Support here
See Zoological Association of America Letter of Support here
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