Anti-Freeze Bill HB96

It is estimated that about 1,400 children and 10,000 dogs and cats die annually from complications related to anti-freeze poisoning ...

How many of you, who happen to be reading this, would even consider consuming a teaspoon of anti-freeze? My guess is no one, not even on a double dog dare. Yet, each year animals and children do drink anti-freeze and it takes less than a teaspoon to kill them. They do it, not on a dare, but because it tastes sweet and their innocence cannot warn them that they are ingesting a lethal substance.

It is estimated that about 1,400 children and 10,000 dogs and cats die annually from complications related to anti-freeze poisoning. Worse, these numbers only reflect the accidental poisonings. According to the Animal Poison Control Center an estimated 200 dogs are poisoned with anti-freeze every year on purpose.

A simple act of adding denatonium benzoate, the worlds bitterest known agent, would save thousands of lives and cost nothing more than 2-3 cents per gallon. Despite this fact, manufacturers of anti-freeze refuse to alter their ingredients by adding this bittering agent.

Ohio HB 96, sponsored by Michael Skindell, has passed in the house. It was previously assigned to the senate insurance committee butmay change. If passed, it will require the addition of denatonium benzoate to engine coolant or anti-freeze that contains more than 10 percent ethylene glycol, the substance which makes anti-freeze so enticing to animals and young children. In addition, packagers, distributors, recyclers and sellers of engine coolant or anti-freeze will have to comply or face misdemeanor charges and a fine of $1000.

Arizona, California, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont and Washington states already have such laws in place. Similar legislation is being considered in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Georgia.

Please, it is imperative that we, as voters, write, call, email, telephone, fax or pay a visit to our senators and tell him that, in the interest of our animals and children, this bill must be passed. Their lives are depending on it.

Please contact your senators and ask them to vote yes on the ANTI-FREEZE Bill.

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Elinor Israel, LOHV Ohio