A group of animal-rights advocates have been working since 2008 to make animal cruelty a felony crime in Ohio.
Supporters of Nitro's Law, or House Bill 108, testified Tuesday morning before a Senate subcommittee.
It's the second time Nitro's Law has passed through the House and moved to the Senate. The bill stalled last year.
The Senate will vote on H.B. 108 Tuesday, May 15.
Nitro's Law started with an animal-cruelty case in 2008.
A Youngstown kennel owner was sentenced to four months behind bars after authorities found 15 dead or dying dogs in his care. Nitro was one of the dogs that was starved to death.
The kennel owner was put on probation for three years. After that, though, he is free to own animals again.
Since then, Nitro's owners and local grassroots groups have been working to change the state law. Right now, no matter how severe the crime, animal cruelty is a misdemeanor crime.
If passed, it would become a fifth-degree felony for kennel owners, managers or employees to neglect pets left in their care. The punishment for each count would be a maximum of 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Tom Siesto, Nitro's owner, traveled from New York to testify Tuesday morning.
He gave moving testimony for the Senate to consider the bill, which, he says, is meant to be a deterrent.
"We don't want to put people behind bars. Our mission is to be a deterrent -- to have people think before they act. That’s what we're trying to do."
He showed a photo of Nitro in a body bag and said, "The image is forever burned in my brain."
Siesto said Nitro was in a training program at the Youngstown kennel while Siesto's father-in-law was sick. Siesto said his father-in-law died one year after Nitro.
Siesto said Nitro was, "My boy, my love."
Senator Cliff Hite (R) said, "We're going to correct this situation."
Testimony is to continue Tuesday afternoon.
Amendments for the language of the bill are due Friday, and the full Senate will vote on Nitro's Law Tuesday, May 15.
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