On the Job 

Included in the budget bill signed by Gov. John Kasich on June 30 is a requirement that all Ohio peace officers receive training on companion-animal encounters and behavior.
 
With the mandate taking effect 90 days from being signed into law, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission had to act quickly to meet the requirements for dealing with what the law calls "companion animals,” which are defined as “any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept.”
 
Among other things, the training must include handling companion-animal-related calls or encounters, particularly with dogs, and the use of nonlethal methods to stop an attack.