State agreement with HSUS calls for these recommendations

— Recommendations will be made to The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB) to take action on issues related to downer cattle and humane euthanasia using language consistent with the proposed ballot initiative.

— The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will coordinate and take action on wild and dangerous animals including the prohibition of the sale and/or possession of big cats, bears, primates, large constricting and venomous snakes and alligators and crocodiles. Existing owners will be grandfathered in, but they could not breed or obtain new animals.

— Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass SB 95 largely in the

current form, which regulates dog breeding kennels.

— Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass HB 108, which will

increase penalties on individuals who engage in cockfighting.

— Recommendations will be made to the OLCSB to adopt the American Veal Association 2007 agreement to transition to group housing for veal calves by 2017.

— Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will issue a statement in support of the mission and purpose of the OLCSB and will engage and work with the Board. Organizations representing Ohioans for Livestock Care and the HSUS will examine and jointly fund independent research projects and studies to identify best practices and to work for the highest farm animal care and welfare standards. If assistance of a third party is needed they will jointly agree on a representative to help in these discussions. When this work is complete, the findings will be presented to the OLCSB.

— Recommendation will be made to the OLCSB for current hog producers and to phase out the use of gestation crates by December 31, 2025. By that date time all sows must be housed using alternative systems. After December 31, 2010, any new facilities must utilize alternative sow housing (not gestation crates). It is understood that in all housing systems, sows may be housed in breeding/gestation stalls until they are confirmed pregnant.

— Recommendation will be made to the OLCSB to adopt standards to instruct ODA to deny permits of new egg facility applicants, based on current permitting standards that call for the use of battery cages. This standard will be in effect for the life of this agreement. This provision does not preclude any Ohio farm from expanding or modifying existing permits, using current housing methods at the existing facility.

— HSUS will also not initiate litigation (nuisance or otherwise) to attempt to use legal process to obtain the same ends as articulated in the ballot initiative in Ohio through the life of this agreement. HSUS will not fund, advise or otherwise support other organizations to move forward in their place.

— The HSUS will not submit a constitutional amendment on animal welfare in 2010 to the Ohio Secretary of State. Failure to implement the provisions related to wild and dangerous animals or the reforms recommended to the OLCSB by December 31, 2010 could void the agreement and allow the HSUS to pursue a ballot initiative whenever it chooses. However, if the terms of this agreement are met and implemented to the satisfaction of all parties, the agreement will extend to January 1, 2014. At that time the agreement shall be extended through January 1, 2017, and subsequently through January 1, 2020, if the terms continue to be met, and no party shall reasonably withhold its consent to the extensions. Any future pursuit of a ballot initiative by HSUS could nullify the limitation on gestation crate or battery cage facilities until and unless other lawful prohibitions come to exist.