MEDIA RELEASE! Ballot Initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) - 'Phase 2 Relaunch

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~



The momentum for our ballot initiative 'Phase 2 Relaunch' is gaining tremendous speed, and once again (as was the case with 2009), two national animal welfare organizations, Animal Law Coalition and the ASPCA, are offering their full support in helping us promote this campaign to their 55,000-plus members across the country! (Please see attached Media Release.)



IN THE NEWS...



If you didn't get the chance to read:


> Pet News and Views blogger, Michele Hollow's January 12 article, Efforts to end Ohio's Dog Auctions Continues, please click here. (Thank you Michele!)

> News-Herald reporter Jason Lea's January 11 article, Activists want to ban dog auctions, please click here. (Thank you Jason!). Also, a very special thanks to Jason's fellow reporter, Sandra Klepach, who continues to provide timely updates on her blog, News-Herald Blogs > Pets Unleashed. To read her latest article, Meeting with Senator Grendell to Discuss Ohio Dog Auctions Act, please click here. (Thank you Sandra!)

> Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Donna Miller's January 8 article, Petition drive to ban dog auctions and curb Ohio puppy mills: Animals in the News, please click here. And her December 11 article, Effort to ban dog auctions requires 120,700 signatures: Animals in the News, please click here. (Thank you Donna!)

> Supporter Jeanie Antonacci's December 14 Sun Messenger - Letter to the Editor, Voters need to sign a petition to ban dog auctions in Ohio, please click here. (Thank you Jeanie!)

We are very grateful for these news stories and letters (which resulted in our team receiving over 781 calls and e-mails from readers across the state asking how they can support the Ohio Dog Auctions Act), and hope Michelle, Donna, Jason, Sandra and Jean (along with other reporters, bloggers and concerned citizens across the Ohio) will continue writing about this very important campaign!

For a complete listing of media releases relating to our ballot initiative, please click here.

WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW...


As of January 1, we have collected a total of 7,202 of the 120,700 signatures needed to successfully complete Phase 2 of our drive. A HUGE THANKS to the 228 volunteer Petition Circulators who helped raise awareness of the Ohio Dog Auctions Act by helping to collect signatures from 64 counties! We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of these dedicated individuals, many of whom work full-time jobs, are raising families as single parents and/or contribute time and energy to various humane organizations across the state.



Despite reaching just under 6% of our signature goal, this still represented a very strong showing given that Phase 2 of our signature drive was not launched until after the November 3, 2009 election (efforts from our volunteers and supporters were focused on defeating Ohio Issue 2).



Because so many people across Ohio and beyond feel passionately in supporting a ban on dog auctions, we are continuing to move full steam ahead with 'Phase 2 Relaunch' of our signature drive; collecting a minimum of 113,498 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters by December 1, 2010. The signatures are necessary to put the proposed law before the Legislature in January 2011.



If our lawmakers do not move on the proposed legislation within 90 days, our team will proceed to 'Phase 3'; gathering another minimum 120,700 valid signatures from registered voters to put the Ohio Dog Auctions Act on the 2011 ballot.


WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR 'PART 2 RELAUNCH'...



Now more than ever, 'Phase 2 Relaunch' of our signature drive will require us to move fast and smart in collecting a minimum of 113,498 signatures by December 1, 2010! To ensure this signature drive is successful and meets the requirements mandated by the Secretary of State, two important steps must take place:
The total number of signatures collected for our Petition must equal at least three percent (3%) of the total vote cast for the office of governor during the 2006 gubernatorial election, and
Signatures must be collected from at least 44 of the 88 counties in Ohio.
To view the minimum number of signatures required for each of the 88 Ohio counties, as well as where we stood as of January 1 relative to our goal of ensuring we have a minimum of 120,700 signatures by December 1, 2011, please scroll to the bottom of this page!



TO HELP US SUCCEED WITH 'PART 2 RELAUNCH'...



New Campaign Kits! To help everyone hit the ground running, we have created a new campaign kit which contains a media release, an informational sheet on the top questions (with answers) everyone needs to know on Ohio dog auctions and an informational sheet onbest strategies in helping to raise awareness and gather signatures from registered voters.



To download these and other informational materials, including a copy of the Initiative Petition (Ohio Dog Auctions Act), please click here.



Town Hall Meetings! If you've been following our Facebook messages, you've probably read that part of our strategy will include Town Hall meetings throughout Ohio. The purpose of these events is to introduce attendees to the team who have been instrumental in leading and supporting our campaign for the various counties, and to provide everyone an opportunity to ask questions and engage in meaningful dialogue on the proposed legislation.



The first (of what we anticipate will be many) is scheduled to take place on Monday, January 25 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village. Senator Tim Grendell (R-18) will also be joining our discussion.



In addition to Geauga, we are currently working in partnership with dedicated animal advocates to hold meetings during February, March and April in the following counties - Athens, Butler, Columbiana, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Jackson, Lorain, Lucas, Montgomery and Richland. Additional details concerning dates, times and locations of each Town Hall Meeting will be posted to our website the week of January 18.





NOW IS THE TIME TO SERVE AS A STRONG VOICE FOR THE DOGS!


The next Ohio Dog Auction is scheduled to take place in February. Over 300 dogs are expected to be placed on the block. Now is the time to send a strong message to our state legislators that dog auctions are an embarrassment to Ohio and its humane minded citizens, and voters and taxpayers are committed to supporting a 2011 ballot initiative to ban these events from our community!


Again, we greatly appreciate all your dedication and support for the dogs!



P.S. If you haven't done so already, we invite you to join the over 1,650 voices who have become members of our FaceBook 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.