Dog sold at auction in Ohio. (Photo - Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions)
This summer, animal welfare groups are stepping up efforts to gather signatures in support of legislation to ban dog auctions in Ohio.
The Ohio Dog Auctions Act would make it illegal to auction or raffle a dog in the state, and it would prohibit bringing into the state for sale or trade dogs who were acquired by auction or raffle elsewhere. Pennsylvania has a similar law in effect, Statute 459-603.
“Many concerned citizens firmly believe the auctions serve not reputable breeders but large commercial facilities where dogs are bred to produce as many puppies as possible in conditions ranging from unsanitary to inhumane,” said Mary O'Connor-Shaver of Columbus Top Dogs, one of the member groups of The Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions, the registered political action committee (PAC) spearheading the effort.
To put the ballot initiative before the Ohio legislature in January, the coalition needs to collect a minimum of 120,700 signatures by December 1.
The groups have organized a statewide, grassroots campaign with booths and volunteers posted at a variety of local fairs, festivals, and fundraisers throughout the summer.
For more info:
The Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions
INTERESTED IN MORE NEWS AND INFO ABOUT ANIMALS? Check out AnimalBeat.org.
Katerina Lorenzatos Makris (a.k.a. Kathryn Makris), author of 18 books for major publishers and hundreds of articles, holds a B.A. in Environmental Science Studies and a lifelong interest in animal issues. She is a co-founder of AnimalBeat.org.
Among her books are Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know about Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need (The Lyons Press), coauthored with Shelley Frost
, and The Eco-Kids, a series of novels for tweens (Avon Books).
Her story Small Change placed as a finalist in The Bark magazine's short fiction contest and will be published this year.
She may be reached at youradopteddog@yahoo.com.
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