New Ohio bill would require vets, social service workers to report animal abuse

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News Center 7's Kayla Courvell talked with a veterinarian about the new bill, which he says is something they already do.

“This won’t be very much of a game changer for us,”  emergency veterinarian Daniel Carey said. “It is already considered our moral responsibility to report cases of abuse.”

SICSA President Nora Vondrell said she didn’t realize this wasn’t already a law.

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“The fact that we have mandated reporters for children, I was surprised to hear that we don’t have mandated reporters for animals,” she said.

Carey said he already reports concerns to authorities, but there’s an issue the bill can’t address.

“We don’t see a lot of abuse cases, mainly because people who are abusing animals aren’t seeking out veterinary care,” he said.