Dick Goddard to Retire from WJW Fox 8 After November 2016

Source: Tony Cordoza / Getty

CLEVELAND, Ohio– After 55 years in the TV business, Dick Goddard has made a huge announcement about his future here at FOX 8 News.

Dick Goddard will continue to report the weather until November of this year, then he will be retiring from television so he can focus 100% on animal advocacy.

“For 55 years I’ve been doing the weather and I’m gonna keep doing it as we go into November; at that point I’m going to step away from the weather maps and we’re getting into total animal welfare,” Dick Goddard said during his announcement.

For the past few years, Dick Goddard has been pushing to get House Bill 60 passed. The law, often called Goddard’s Law, would make it a fifth-degree felony to knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal. That includes depriving a pet of food, water or shelter, or inflicting long-term pain.

“It passed the House like 83-8, quite awhile ago, but we’ve got to get through the Senate,” Goddard said.

Although Dick Goddard will be stepping away from FOX 8 News later this year, his legacy and plenty of memories will live on for many years to come. He also plans to continue his involvement with the annual Woollybear Festival in Vermilion. This year’s festival is on October 2.