Ohio Puppy Mills: We Have A Chance To Stop Them Now!

                 The photos below are from Ohio's Puppy Mills.

If you find these photos hard to take, then it's time for you to take action! Awhile back, we introduced you to a wonderful women, Mary O'Connor-Shaver, and a crew of dedicated volunteers who have been working tirelessly to pass legislation that restricts the breeding and sale of dogs via "puppy mills", and to ban dog auctions in Ohio.

                        See Mary (R) and friends below

Although the Ohio Senate passed a version of SB130 that was fairly restrictive of the puppy mill industry, after lobbying by puppy mill "breeders" and groups that would be adversely affected by a final passage of that bill, the Ohio House has introduced Substitute SB 130, which according to expert analysis (see below) has been watered down to protect the industry rather than restrict it.

Public hearings on the bill are taking place both on Tuesday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 12 in the Ohio House Chambers, Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio.

We're urging all Ohio residents to contact their state representatives and voice opposition to this bill! And even those of you living outside of Ohio can do your part by checking out the links below and keeping up with the latest information on Ohio's puppy mills and dog auction ban, and commenting on the various Facebook pages set up for these causes.

Below is the entirety of Mary's e-mail with dates and times for the testimony and important links for keeping abreast of these issues.

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

URGENT ACTION ALERT – SUBSTITUTE SB 130 (OHIO'S 'PUPPY MILL BREEDER PROTECTION' BILL) HOUSE AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE HEARINGS!  

• Tue., 9/11 - 9 AM (RM 121) – 2nd Hearing (All Testimony)
• Wed., 9/12 - 9 AM (RM 121) - 3rd Hearing (All Testimony)

The Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions (CBODA) will be providing written testimony!

Click here to review Substitute SB 130. 

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NEXT STEPS!  If you haven't done so already, we strongly recommend that you read the excellent analysis of Substitute SB 130 by Laura Allen, Esq., Founder of Animal Law Coalition: Ag Dept to Regulate Breeders in Revised Ohio Bill - > http://www.animallawcoalition.com/companion-animal-breeding/article/1355.

Among Laura's findings:

1. The bill contains no standards of care for dogs kept or transported by breeders or retailers. The bill does not even require the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to issue standards of care!
2. Dogs kept for breeding would not be required to have any veterinary care until prior to sale. 
3. The ODA is not required to inspect a breeder or dog retailer prior to issuing a license - the ODA is free to rely on the word of the breeder or retailer as to the number of dogs housed and the number of litters to be produced.
4. The Department has virtually unfettered discretion to determine whether to deny, suspend, or revoke a license.
5. License fees range from $150 for breeders that sell between 9-15 litters annually to $750 for those selling more than 45 litters annually.  It is not clear how the department will determine how many litters a breeder sells other than by simply taking the word of the breeder. 
6. Civil penalties or fines are to be set by the ODA for violations of the licensing provisions. Otherwise, the civil penalty or fine for any other violation is capped at $25 per violation. 
7. There are no standards for inspections or reports; it is not clear what inspectors are supposed to be looking for.
8. There is no requirement that the ODA report violations of Ohio Revised Code pertaining to animal cruelty or animal fighting laws to county dog wardens, humane agents or local prosecutors.
9. No appropriations accompany the bill. There is no funding for administrators or training of inspectors.
10. Nothing under this bill requires the ODA to be accountable in any way for carrying out its duties, such as they are, under this bill.

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URGENT ACTION REQUIRED – CALL/WRITE/VISIT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS!  Share your concerns regarding protections for breeding dogs in Ohio’s ‘puppy mill’ breeding facilities under Substitute SB 130!

To locate your legislators in the Ohio General Assembly House, please lick here. 

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BE A STRONG VOICE! We invite everyone to join the over 2,025 voices who have become members of our Face Book group, Ohio Voters against Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions! Membership is FREE, and our portal serves as a great vehicle in which to receive timely updates on issues and campaigns addressing Ohio dog auctions, puppy mills and the entities that support and keep them in business.

For more information on how you can become a member, please click here.

Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/

http://www.LostPetUSA.net

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

We thank Mary and the volunteers who are working on behalf of the voiceless pups in Ohio and elsewhere-all puppy mills must be stopped and dog auctions banned in every state!

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