Ohio is America's second largest puppy mill state according to the Humane Society of the United States. These large-scale breeding facilities are considered by the Humane Society to put profit above animal welfare, housing dogs in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, and breeding females with little recovery time.
Now the group, Stop Puppy Mills Ohio, is circulating a petition to put an anti-puppy mill issue before voters next November. Their proposed constitutional amendment would put new restrictions on commercial dog breeding. The restrictions include limiting the number of litters a female dog could produce in her lifetime. Breeders who fail to meet the standards would be banned from selling dogs. The measure is likely to be opposed by Ohio's Amish breeders and some pet stores.
Here to discuss the movement are Senior Director of The Humane Society's Stop Puppy Mills Campaign John Goodwin; Paws Look Listen Certified Professional Dog Trainer Nick Hof; and Jim Tomaszewski, who serves on the boards of SPCA Cincinnati, Cincinnati Lab Rescue, and the Ohio Council for the Humane Society.