Dogs and cats in Ohio can receive life-saving care from first responders

Dogs and cats in need of life-saving care from Ohio first responders can now receive it—but only if there is a human-related emergency nearby.

Governor John Kasich signed a bill passed in 2016 by Ohio’s General Assembly (hb187_05_en) that allows firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other certified first responders to provide these dogs and cats with a variety of potentially life-saving services—including opening airways, administering oxygen, controlling bleeding and immobilizing fractures—without the risk of being sued by the victim’s human caregiver or prosecuted in a criminal proceeding.

According to the bill, these services may be provided during the course of an emergency involving humans before bringing the dogs or cats to a veterinarian for further treatment.

Vets are now allowed to develop emergency-care procedures and consult with first responders about how to treat their potential four-legged patients.

While the Humane Party applauds this step to expand the access to medical services for non-human animals, it will continue to pursue an end to the property status of all animals in the United States.

The Humane Party, the first American political party committed to rights for all animals—not just the human kind, released the final text of its Abolition Amendment in December.

When ratified, the proposed amendment would abolish slavery and involuntary servitude “of any animal” within the United States and places subject to its jurisdiction, therefore outlawing industries that promote animal killing or animal exploitation.