Ohio Wildlife Center urges statutory change so rehabilitators can hold organizational euthanasia license

Lori Williams, corporate treasurer of the Ohio Wildlife Center, testified in support of Senate Bill 152 and asked the committee to amend Ohio Revised Code 4729.01 so wildlife rehabilitators may obtain an organizational license to administer euthanasia medications.

Williams said the Ohio Wildlife Center, the state’s largest wildlife rehabilitation hospital, treats roughly 9,000 animals annually and is regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and Franklin County Department of Health. She said current statutory language prevents wildlife rehabilitators from qualifying for an organizational license and forces staff to rely on individual veterinarians to obtain and administer certain medications.

The center requested a change to the statute to include wildlife rehabilitators in the definition of “animal shelter” or to otherwise permit an organizational license similar to veterinary hospitals and humane societies, with mandatory drug-protocol compliance and recordkeeping. Williams warned that without the change, wildlife centers could face operational disruptions and, in extreme cases, be forced to use less humane methods to end animal suffering.

Williams introduced Heather Tuttle, executive director of the Ohio Wildlife Center, and both organizations stated the change had been drafted with input from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and that the Humane Society of the United States (identified in testimony as having provided input) reviewed the proposal. Williams closed by asking the committee to allow the center to provide humane care: “Please allow Ohio Wildlife Center to provide this community service of treating suffering animals in the most humane manner possible.”

The committee concluded the second hearing on SB 152; no vote was recorded at this hearing.