Kasich Announces New Animal Law; Public Anxious To See If It Will Work

Governor John Kasich (R-OH) signed a new executive order Friday that he says gives authorities more power to investigate complaints about exotic animals. The move comes three days after nearly 50 exotic animals were shot and killed in Zanesville.

Kasich said his order will also help to crackdown on unlicensed exotic animal auctions. Animal advocate Tim Harrison says Ohio is home to some of the biggest exotic animal auctions in the world. One of the largest is in Mt. Hope and held three times a year. Harrison says Bengal tigers, lions and bears are available there.

Kasich faced criticism after the Zanesville incident because he repealed an executive order put in place by his predecessor, former Governor Ted Strickland in January of 2011. That order placed an emergency ban on the ownership of exotic animals.

Animal owners and those who live near exotic animals have been watching Kasich's new executive order closely.

Adrienne Galajda of Pataskala was terrified the day she says her neighbor's two wolf breed dogs got loose. She says the half wolf, half german sheperd dogs came onto her deck. She says she believes the dogs would have come inside her home and killed her dogs had her screen door been open. That day she had the glass door closed.

NBC 4 was unable to reach the wolf breed dogs' owner for comment. According to Galajda the dogs have broken loose from their owner's property several times in the last year. She says they have threatened horses and were seen chasing a deer.

Galajda called the local Sheriff and dog warden but was told there was not much they could do. She believes it is only a matter of time before a tragedy happens and hopes Governor Kasich's new executive order will give authorities the power to take action when necessary.

"It is my desire they're taking a look at and crafting just common sense language that gives law enforcement the ability to do their job and protect the public, " Galajda said.

Friday Governor Kasich agreed with animal advocates who have been critical of Ohio as having some of the laxest exotic animal laws in the country.

"Frankly, our laws have been too lax and basically unattended for several hundred years," Kasich said.

The governor has been criticized for repealing an executive order put in place by his predecessor, former Governor Ted Strickland (D), last January which placed an emergency ban on exotic animal ownership.

Friday Kasich defended himself saying no one could have predicted the Zanesville tragedy and that good laws take time to craft.

For now, Galajda says she just hopes Kasich and legislators do something to ensure no more exotic animals or people get hurt.

"I just don't want tragedy to happen before we take further action," she said.

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