Ohio Dog Auction Update

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~



The next Ohio Dog Auction is scheduled to take place on September 25 and 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!



In the News!



If you haven't done so already, we invite you to read these latest articles highlighting our 2011 ballot initiative campaign:



05/27/10 - Philly Dawg - PAR 2: TV report exposes conditions at Ohio dog auction
05/27/10 - Philly Dawg - TV report exposes conditions at Ohio dog auction

05/25/10 - WHAS11 - I-Team Investigation: Inside the multi-million dollar business of dog auctions - Part 2

05/25/10 - WHAS 11 - I-Team Investigation: Inside the multi-million dollar business of dog auctions - Part 1

05/19/10 - Westlake/Bay Village Observer - Help end Ohio puppy mills: Ban Ohio Dog Auctions ballot initiative needs your help!
05/10/10 - The Times Reporter - Coalition against dog auctions finds ally
04/29/10 - The Lantern (Ohio State University) - Dog treatment a concern, but especially in Ohio



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


USDA Report!



An internal government report has confirmed dogs are dying and living in horrific conditions due to lax government enforcement of large kennels known as puppy mills. Investigators say the Department of Agriculture agency in charge of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act often ignores repeat violations, waives penalties and doesn't adequately document inhumane treatment of dogs.

The investigators visited 68 dog and dog brokers in eight states breeders (included 12 audit sites in Ohio, of which 58% were located in Holmes and Tuscarawas counties) that had been cited for at least one violation in the previous three years. On those visits, they found that first-time violators were rarely penalized, even for more serious violations, and repeat offenders were often let off the hook as well. The agency also gave some breeders a second chance to correct their actions even when they found animals dying or suffering, delaying confiscation of the animals.



To review the findings and a copy of the report, please click here.



August 21 Peaceful Rally against the Ohio Dog Auction!



GET READY TO SERVE AS A STRONG VOICE FOR THE DOGS!



Following our very successful peaceful rally in Millersburg on May 22, animal advocates are ready to stand united against the Ohio Dog Auction in Holmes County!



DATE:

Sat., August 21, 2010



TIME:

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM



LOCATION:

Route 39 - Holmes County, OH (details of exact rally location will be mailed under separate cover)



Media coverage of the Ohio Dog Auctions and their relationship to puppy mills and pet homelessness has been extensive, and any of our protesting rescuers are committed to initiating humane reform at county pounds and shelters, and they are ready to assist the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions in initiating positive change through their ballot campaign (Ohio Dog Auctions Act).



For details on the Rally (as they becomes confirmed), please click here.



Just 183 days remaining until December 1!



As of June 1, a total of 15,472 signatures have been collected of the minimum 120,700 signatures required. 296 volunteer Petition Circulators have raised awareness of the Ohio Dog Auctions Act by helping to collect signatures from 72 counties.



Voters across the state are communicating with their fellow citizens and starting to gather a goal of a minimum of 120,700 signatures by December 1, 2010 to put the proposed law before the Legislature in January 2011.

Volunteer petitioners are needed to make this initiative a reality in Ohio -we have until December 1, 2010! We need everyone's participation to make this vital effort a success!



· Campaign Kits! Our campaign kit to help gather signatures 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 on best 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! Learn more about the Ohio Dog Auctions Act by participating in a Town Hall Meeting for your county!

For dates, times and locations (as they become confirmed), please click here.

· Signature Gathering! With over 120,700 signatures needed for the Initiative Petition to be placed on the 2011 ballot, much help is needed from volunteers!

For dates, times and locations of upcoming Signature Gatherings (as they become confirmed), please click here.



Ohio Voters against Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions!



If you haven't done so already, we invite you to join the over 2,130 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.



Sign the Care 2 Petition Letter to the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors!



Get motivated and get involved! We need many voices to serve as a strong voice against the Ohio Dog Auctions! Sign the Care 2 Petition Letter which will be presented to the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors following our USA Today article scheduled to be published in early June. Our goal is 3,000 signatures!



To sign the Care 2 Petition Letter, please click here.



Thanks everyone for continuing to serve as a strong voice for the animals! Don't forget to honor our fallen heroes on this Memorial Day!


County Total votes cast in 2006 governor's race 3% (the MINIMUM number of signatures we need to collect by 12/01/10) The total number of signatures we have collected as of 06/01/10 Percent of Goal
Adams 8,685 261 17 6.51%
Allen 36,229 1,087 3 0.28%
Ashland 19,355 581 25 4.30%
Ashtabula 33,865 1,016 7 0.69%
Athens 19,840 595 118 19.83%
Auglaize 16,907 507 3 0.59%
Belmont 23,996 720 0 0.00%
Brown 14,044 421 6 1.43%
Butler 115,895 3,477 159 4.57%
Carroll 11,152 335 5 1.49%
Champaign 14,264 428 4 0.93%
Clark 49,056 1,472 9 0.61%
Clermont 65,010 1,950 148 7.59%
Clinton 12,646 379 4 1.06%
Columbiana 36,223 1,087 3 0.28%
Coshocton 13,408 402 421 104.73%
Crawford 16,744 502 3 0.60%
Cuyahoga 454,100 13,623 5,889 43.23%
Darke 20,223 607 0 0.00%
Defiance 13,638 409 0 0.00%
Delaware 64,773 1,943 314 16.16%
Erie 30,106 903 15 1.66%
Fairfield 54,004 1,620 138 8.52%
Fayette 8,402 252 3 1.19%
Franklin 373,258 11,198 2,305 20.58%
Fulton 16,141 484 1 0.21%
Gallia 10,165 305 2 0.66%
Geauga 39,148 1,174 485 41.31%
Greene 59,113 1,773 6 0.34%
Guernsey 13,375 401 8 2.00%
Hamilton 287,496 8,625 535 6.20%
Hancock 25,675 770 253 32.86%
Hardin 9,723 292 16 5.48%
Harrison 6,095 183 0 0.00%
Henry 11,473 344 0 0.00%
Highland 13,158 395 2 0.51%
Hocking 9,860 296 337 113.85%
Holmes 8,108 243 15 6.17%
Huron 18,917 568 4 0.70%
Jackson 10,423 313 231 73.80%
Jefferson 26,133 784 0 0.00%
Knox 20,780 623 28 4.49%
Lake 88,006 2,640 537 20.34%
Lawrence 19,109 573 1 0.17%
Licking 59,051 1,772 114 6.43%
Logan 16,080 482 7 1.45%
Lorain 100,632 3,019 736 24.38%
Lucas 142,784 4,284 80 1.87%
Madison 13,441 403 47 11.66%
Mahoning 95,251 2,858 6 0.21%
Marion 21,691 651 27 4.15%
Medina 65,511 1,965 232 11.81%
Meigs 7,707 231 14 6.06%
Mercer 15,646 469 2 0.43%
Miami 37,054 1,112 26 2.34%
Monroe 6,066 182 2 1.10%
Montgomery 189,201 5,676 117 2.06%
Morgan 5,516 165 14 8.48%
Morrow 12,575 377 18 4.77%
Muskingum 28,719 862 19 2.20%
Noble 5,072 152 0 0.00%
Ottawa 17,207 516 0 0.00%
Paulding 7,479 224 0 0.00%
Perry 11,291 339 10 2.95%
Pickaway 17,960 539 173 32.10%
Pike 9,776 293 0 0.00%
Portage 54,970 1,649 77 4.67%
Preble 15,553 467 3 0.64%
Putnam 14,161 425 0 0.00%
Richland 45,799 1,374 129 9.39%
Ross 23,839 715 14 1.96%
Sandusky 22,736 682 1 0.15%
Scioto 26,369 791 0 0.00%
Seneca 20,051 602 1 0.17%
Shelby 17,029 511 0 0.00%
Stark 139,414 4,182 764 18.27%
Summit 197,747 5,932 380 6.41%
Trumbull 81,128 2,434 30 1.23%
Tuscarawas 31,585 948 126 13.29%
Union 16,877 506 49 9.68%
Van Wert 10,409 312 0 0.00%
Vinton 4,422 133 16 12.03%
Warren 68,091 2,043 39 1.91%
Washington 22,788 684 3 0.44%
Wayne 38,546 1,156 119 10.29%
Williams 13,033 391 0 0.00%
Wood 45,616 1,368 16 1.17%
Wyandot 8,160 245 1 0.41%
All Counties 4,022,754 120,682 15,472 12.82%







Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com