Dick Goddard at an animal humane event in Wayne County, Ohio.

Dick Goddard is still a household name across north-east Ohio. Famous for his career in weather forecasting at Fox 8 WJW, for which he holds the world record in length, he is also well known for his animal rights advocacy.

Historically, Ohio has been known for having lax laws regarding animal welfare. In 2009, the Humane Society of the United States released a report that ranked Ohio as 43rd out of the 50 states. It was one of the few states in the Union that did not classify animal cruelty as a felony on the first offense.

Mr. Goddard wanted to change that. Thanks to his advocacy, “Goddard’s Law” was signed into law on June 13, 2016. Because of this law, knowingly causing serious physical harm to a companion animal is a 5th degree felony on the first offense. The law also mandates prison time for those assaulting a police or service animal.

We would like to thank Dick Goddard for his dedication to animal welfare. Without the efforts of people like Mr. Goddard, Ohio would be a far less safe place for animals.