In a massive win for homeless animals, the Ohio Supreme Court has unanimously declared the state’s animal cruelty statute applies to stray cats and dogs, the Dayton Daily News reports.
The ruling follows the appeal of a 2021 conviction of a man charged with animal cruelty after pouring bleach down the stairs of an apartment building in order to drive away a stray kitten. The cat — suffering from irritated and red paws — was taken to an animal hospital, and the suspect was later convicted of animal cruelty. However, the Eighth District Court of Appeals overturned the decision, arguing the statute didn’t cover dogs or cats without a guardian. This decision sparked a heated debate, ultimately leading to the Ohio Supreme Court’s new ruling.
The ruling sets a precedent for future cases involving animal cruelty — ensuring all dogs and cats, regardless of their living situation are protected under Ohio’s animal cruelty statute.
“Applying the statute’s plain meaning, we hold that R.C. 959.131’s prohibition on causing serious physical harm to a companion animal extends to all dogs and cats,” Justice Patrick F. Fischer wrote in the majority ruling.
The Court of Appeals examined the phrase “any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept” and determined that “kept” could only refer to an animal who had a home and lived as a human’s companion animal. The Supreme Court of Ohio came to a different conclusion.
“Furthermore, the phrase ‘any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept’ is meant to eliminate the residential requirement for dogs and cats, not create a separate requirement for dogs and cats,” Fischer wrote.
Lady Freethinker commends the Ohio Supreme Court for their decision. This recognition that no dog or cat — regardless of their guardianship — should suffer mistreatment, is a significant step forward in the fight for animal rights.
