( CNN ) -- Ohio 's governor on Friday signed an executive order covering ownership of dangerous wild animals , which will strengthen enforcement of existing laws , and said he will push for tighter regulations through legislation . Gov . John Kasich spoke to reporters just days after authorities in his state used lethal force against exotic animals on the loose . Police believe the animals ' owner , Terry Thompson , 62 , freed the animals -- lions , tigers , leopards and grizzly bears -- at his preserve near Zanesville before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound . `` Fortunately , today , I 'm able to sign an executive order that will have teeth , that is founded in the law , and gives power to people , '' the governor said . Among other directives , the executive order instructs the departments of agriculture , natural resources and health to work with local health officials , humane societies and law enforcement to identify locations where dangerous animals might be , investigate and enforce laws that are already on the books , Kasich said . It also directs agencies to work with the zoos to safely house animals that are captured or confiscated , and orders the agriculture department to identify unlicensed auctions of dangerous animals and take appropriate action . Finally , the order instructs the state 's department of natural resources to develop a framework for legislative change by the end of November . According to the governor , state officials do not currently have the authority to track down exotic and dangerous animals that are not native to Ohio . `` Let me be clear on this . We will seek statutory authority . Changes must be made in the law , '' said Kasich . Ohio authorities were called to the area around Thompson 's house Tuesday night . Of the 56 animals released , only a grizzly bear , two monkeys and three leopards were taken alive , Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said . Killed were two wolves , six black bears , two grizzly bears , nine male lions , eight lionesses , one baboon , three mountain lions , and 18 Bengal tigers . One monkey remained unaccounted for Wednesday night , though Lutz , and conservationist Jack Hanna , said the animal may have been eaten by one of the big cats . The Humane Society of the United States has said it does not fault authorities for using deadly force in such a situation . However , on Friday , the group criticized the governor 's response by saying the order he signed `` is inadequate and sidesteps the central problems created by the exotic animal trade in Ohio . `` The Humane Society of the United States agrees with him ( Kasich ) that the legislature should enact a statute that addresses the problem , but in the interim , we need an executive order that bans the sale and acquisition of dangerous wild animals as pets or roadside attractions , '' said Wayne Pacelle , president and CEO of the group .
Amnesty International called the state 's response ` ` inadequate '' . Gov . John Kasich says the law must change . He talks just days after authorities shot exotic animals on the loose . Of the 56 animals shot , only two were taken alive .