Outside the courtroom at Zanesville Municipal Court representatives of Nitro Foundation rallied to draw attention to animal cruelty.

The foundation is pushing for the passage of House Bill 108 also known as Nitro's Law, which calls for stiffer penalties for animal cruelty, abuse and neglect. One member was outraged at the case involving Justin Smith, who authorities said slit the throat of his girlfriend's dog.

"I was appalled. I was disgusted," said Aimee Caine who...