Ohio's new animal anti-cruelty law protects companion animals as well as children. Signed by the Governor in January, the law makes significant changes to the state's 125-year-old anti-cruelty law, which was until now among the weakest in the nation.

In addition to establishing felony provisions for overt acts of cruelty to dogs, cats and other pets that live in a house, the law also provides for cross reporting between social service agencies and humane societies when cases of cruelty to children or animals are recognized.

"Experts have found a strong link between cruelty to animals and violence against people," said Sandy Rowland, director of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Great Lakes Regional Office. "Serial killers like Jeffery Dahmer tortured and killed animals as a boy."

The HSUS First Strike Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and violence towards people while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families.