Ohio’s new puppy mills law, one of the strongest in nation, takes effect today
After 2021, the law will ban wire flooring and will require an increase in the size of the kennels. Above, dogs at an Ohio puppy mill that appeared in our 2018 Horrible Hundred report. Photo by Ohio Department of Agriculture
Starting today, commercial breeders in Ohio can no longer cram dogs into cages that are stacked on top of each other and deprive animals of basic necessities, like space to move, exercise and access to veterinary care. A pathbreaking new law that goes into effect today upgrades standards of care for dogs kept in breeding kennels that churn out large numbers of puppies, also called puppy mills.
Under the new law, each dog must be given daily exercise that allows the animal to extend to full stride, play and engage in other types of mentally stimulating and social behaviors, receive an annual veterinary exam, and be housed with other dogs in temperature-regulated kennels, among other reforms. The law also mandates that only healthy dogs can be bred, and limits the number of times a female dog can be bred. It requires retailers selling puppies in Ohio to acquire animals solely from breeders who meet these standards, regardless of what state they are in.
After 2021, the law will ban wire flooring and will require an increase in the size of the kennels.
Today is the culmination of years of work to improve the lives of dogs in Ohio and advocates all across the country have reason to celebrate. This is one of the strongest puppy mill laws on the books anywhere in the United States, and I want to commend our colleagues in the Humane Society of the United States puppy mills campaign, our Ohio State Director Corey Roscoe and the many volunteers in the state who worked long and hard for this outcome. We also thank Gov. John Kasich for signing this bill into law. This is a major victory for companion animals and their welfare, and we hope it will set the trend for more states to pass similar legislation to stop some of the most abusive practices in puppy mills.
As if we needed more evidence of the harm puppy mills cause to both animals and humans, a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals what we have long suspected: that commercial dog breeders, transporters and pet stores are routinely giving puppies strong antibiotics to prevent disease, rather than to treat it. Using antibiotics widely and recklessly in this way renders them ineffective in fighting human and animal diseases and conditions by contributing to drug-resistant strains. Already, we know of one zoonotic disaster caused by such antibiotic use: the study revealed that a number of puppy-selling pet stores, including Petland, were linked to a disease outbreak caused by an antibiotic resistant strain of campylobacter, a disease-causing bacterium. The outbreak is known to have infected at least 118 people, with some ending up in the hospital.
Read next: USDA moves to permanently hide animal welfare records on puppy mills, walking horse shows and other regulated businesses
The CDC has called for the commercial dog breeding industry to be more judicious in its use of antibiotics, but those of us who fight this problem daily know that much more work is needed before these problems can be erased.
We also need to work to keep new, exploitative practices from taking hold. For instance, a practice called “pet leasing” has been growing in popularity and has come under the spotlight in recent years. Predatory marketers lease out pets to people for a period of time and then allow them to make a final balloon payment to keep these pets. There have been well-publicized cases of consumers who had no idea they were leasing their new four-legged family member and were terrified their pet would be taken away from them because they missed a payment.
California and Nevada have already passed laws against pet leasing, and this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who had earlier committed to “create a stronger, more humane New York,” signed a law banning this practice in his state. Kudos to our New York staff and volunteers who pushed for the passage of this bill.
Our work to fight puppy mills is one of our most important priorities at the Humane Society of the United States. Our federal and state legislative teams, attorneys, puppy mills campaign staff, investigative team and our Animal Rescue Team attack this problem from every angle, whether it’s reaching consumers through education, working with pet supply stores, taking unscrupulous online puppy sellers to court, collaborating with responsible breeders and other stakeholders, helping pass state and federal laws, saving animals from terrible situations in puppy mills, conducting undercover investigations, and raising awareness about puppy mills through our annual Horrible Hundred report. Every victory we achieve takes us closer to the day we can end this scourge once and for all.
You can do your part too, by making the right choice when you acquire your next companion animal: from a shelter, a rescue group, or a responsible breeder, and not from an internet seller or a pet store or a puppy mill. America needs a fundamental change in how dogs are raised and sold here, and as the victory in Ohio shows, we can work together to make that change happen.
P.S. You can also help fight puppy mills by coming to our Puppy Mill Action Boot Camp in Malvern, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. The boot camp, which will run from Oct. 20-21, will help anti-puppy-mill advocates learn how to work with lawmakers, speak to the media, and organize grassroots efforts. It includes eight workshops, four meals, many dynamic expert speakers and even some fun surprises, all for only a $25 registration fee. Hotel discounts are available for those who register by Sept. 29, so sign up now.
NATIONAL REGISTRY OF ANIMAL ABUSERS!
I believe all puppy mills should be illegal. I also believe that the owners of puppy mills should be put in cages when they take the animals out,put the owners in, leave them in there for 2 or 3 months, feeding them once a day and never let them out of their cages until 3 months are up. That is what I would love to see happen.
This is so bad we have to tell the world about this and make all puppy mills illegal am I right.
Please tell me who is going to the Amish farms and inspecting how they are raising dogs for money like a crop of corn. It is heartless.
Easy answer. Nobody! We drove the backroads through Sugarcreek 2 months ago. Puppy mills are rampant, as is factory farming of chickens and cattle living in cruel deplorable conditions. They pass laws to make themselves look good on paper but don’t enforce it. I can’t even get help for neighboring dogs being starved and frozen to death in Ohio. Its like a 3rd world country here. They just don’t care.
That sounds good to me. Let them live how the dogs were forced to live.
Years.
excellent
You want to buy from a reputable breeder ??? that breeder is one who would never think of putting a dog on wire mesh flooring, or locking it in tiny cages. Who would ever purchase a dog from one of those places and help perpetuate that cruelty. It’s time to BAN puppy mills. It’s also time for everyone to stop enabling these people to continue the creulty. STOP PURCHASING FROM THEM.
Agreed totally. This is still a major step in the right direction. Let’s keep moving this forward until all of these cages are empty. Thank you for caring.
I also would like to do something about backyard breeders. They dump the ones they don’t sell.
That’s not true, back yard breeders, unlike puppy mills, love their dogs, and only sell to good homes, or if they dont sell them they keep them until they find a good home to place it in.
And you know this how exactly?
Not all back yard breeders are so humane.
I have seen puppies locked in cargo trailers with little fresh air or sun. Also in shed with wire sides and a light roof for shade that gives no protection from rain and fed leftovers when available .
I honestly have never seen a backyard breeder who has the best interests of the dog. They only differ from puppy mills because they have better housing. Perhaps you are thinking of hoarders. These people mean well but often take on more than they can manage p.
Qué bueno que se está haciendo algo al respecto con la fábrica de cachorros, tiene que acabar ya no más abusos injusticias
Only one liter per dog for any breeder is the way it should be!!!!!!
I totally agree with one liter per dog, no one should put the animals through more than that. It would also help control the pet population, people would need to adopt and that would be a wonderful thing. A dog does not need to be a special breed to be a special dog.
I agree stop puppy mills and do notnallow cages at all
Who will enforce these new laws?? They are a good thing but are useless without enforcement. Highland county does not have a humane agent. Also….will the Amish community be required to follow the new guidelines??
Good question! Amish breed nonstop
Will they be allowed to hide behind their religion???
however, we still have humans who WANT & NEED their dogs to be DESIGNER Dogs. I will never understand humans that don’t care about the animals well-being. We as humans are very selfish….
Is it because “these” people have more money then brains??
You hit the nail on the head. I know several kennels in our area have confirmed to the new laws but many others have not. No one is checking them. Complaints from the public are being addressed by sending the breeder a letter asking if they breed so many dogs. If the breeder says no then there is no follow up to see if the breeder is telling the truth. I love the new laws but more follow through is needed.
I hope so!!!! There as guilty as anyone!!!!
Glad to see this comment. I wonder the same about the Amish community. When looking for my last rescue I encountered a few rescue groups who regularly help “adopt out” puppies from Amish families who refuse to spay/neuter and contain their dogs. They are desirable breeds so the process is perpetuated.
I sure hope they check the Amish!
I see no reason they wouldn’t be expected to follow it. Despite what they may think they are not above the law. And I think people who know of specific farms that are breeding to call the dog Warden I assume to make a complaint to have them investigated. Obviously they can’t just start going to every farm just to see so specific address with legit concerns should be called in and then called back to see if followed up on
What’s a number I can call to make a complaint about a breeder in Dundee Ohio selling puppies with grade 3 luxating patella?
All puppy mills should be illegal. I have one of the survivors of one of these mills and it is incorrigible what has been done to this poor soul. Why can’t they be SHUT DOWN?
How are the new requirements enforced and what are the penalties? I pray OH is successful in their efforts and other states will adapt. What are the chances of getting the dept of ag out of the picture and having state inspectors? Thank you for all your efforts and congratulation on this achievement!
Who is going to be checking all these puppy mills to make sure they are following the law. This is why it keeps going on because there’s nobody to to check up on them and take appropriate action.
Thats not true their are inspectors constantly going out.
Inspectors can only inspect those they know about pr can find. Puppy mills, are sneaky, and seek interstate, so are harder to trace. Fake addresses, or none.
Exactly! Who’s going to check to see if dogs go out for exercise and go to vets for checkups? No one.
Exactly. We need the mills shut down so the suffering can end..and what about the Amish? Are they above these laws they have most of ohio mills.
I agree I have reported some horrible things I have seen at amish places
We rescued our beautiful Joey from an Amish Puppy Mill in Northern Wisconsin!
He was a mess when we got him but years of excellent vet care and tons of love made his life so much better! He had almost every organ in his body damaged by these terrible people!
So unnecessary and horrible!
It broke our hearts seeing him go through everything he had to go through throughout his life! He lived for over 14 years and just recently had to be put to sleep. It was the worst day of our lives! I am still not over it and I grieve every day for him. I am hoping we can get another dog in the future. He is just so irreplaceable.
But we know that they’re is another dog out there that needs us!
So maybe next year.
I agree with closing down all puppy Mills. I rescued a little 3 pound chi senior, she had been breed her entire life and had crippled legs from being raised in a cage. She had multiple tumors and no teeth. I gave her 6 good years. She was just the sweetest little girl with big brown eyes and a huge heart full of forgiveness!! I finally had to put her down due to organ failure caused by a lifetime of abuse. I will never forget my Molly, I will FOREVER remember the horrible abuse she sufferd, In the hands of a Puppy Mill owner.
I would like to see a limit on number of times a animal can be bred. Set a fat registration fee and unannounced visits to all sites that breed for inspection. Let’s close all loopholes and get tough ! Failure to do this would put said family on a list never to sell another pet.
The article says it will limit the number of times a female can be bred but it doesn’t say what that number is.
You obviously didn’t bother to read the article. They mention a limit on how many times they can be bred.
Jim Muha, Nancy did say the article states it will limit the number of times a dog can be bred. She also stated the article does not say what that number is. So in other words is the limit on breeding 3 times, 5 times???
His reply was to the original comment from Barb….
Fantastic! Wonderful news! Now to make sure it is followed and enforced!
And…..forced throughout America Canada and hopefully one day throughout the world!
Best pet is one that is rescued!
Ha! They’re just going to go into hiding. Our laws are too leanant. Pet stores should be held responsible and heavily fined if they are caught buying mill dogs. Force them to reveal where they got them from. Imprison and fine these people severely.
AMEN!! So very happy that this has happened! Animals are not soulless commodities and it’s about time that they are defended!
This is such wonderful news, but why do these poor animals have to wait for humane treatment until 2021?!?!?
My exact question why wait to 2021 ???
As far as the wire floors, my guess is the cost to the people selling to replace the cage…. Which is REDICULOUS!!! Who cares! I’m sure they’ve made PLENTY of money over the years…. To give them two years is unforgivable!! Just my opinion!!
God bless you for the work you do
I find it impossible to believe that this law will change anything. Who will enforce this law? Who will go onto Amish farms and inspect conditions? The Amish in Ohio are viewed as quaint and are certainly given “hands-off” treatment by the law, but the Amish have no soul when it comes to their running of puppy mills.
While I push for adoption through shelters and rescues…..There are MANY honest reputable Amish breeders that far outweigh the few bad apples. I get tired of hearing the hypocrital statements that Amish are cruel to their animals. Animal cruelty and neglect in the English world by FAR outweighs in staggering numbers every day all over the Country compared to the Amish. Like I said,there are many good,caring,compassionate,reputable Amish breeders out there that are doing it right. I know this first hand because I live in the second largest Amish community in the Country.
NOT IN MY AREA IN OHIO!!! dogs are considered agriculture, not companion animals! Breed sell, breed and sell… My friend lives across the road from amish, as she visited them, the husband shot their dog as it was ‘not keeping the rabbits out of the garden’ and considered useless. We have the old order and they have the old rules,,,have as many kids as possible for free farm help!
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I will be hosting a live radio show in Los Angeles on animals with a segment on Amish puppy mills. I would like to interview someone (over the phone live during the taping) who has actual knowledge of Amish dog breeding. A witness, a neighbor, etc. – someone with convincing evidence in favor or against Amish puppy mills. Please contact me at nancy@animallawlawyer.com
Per capita, the Amish probably treat animals worse than any other community. Of course there may be “good apples,” but their reputation with carriage horses, (refusing to vet treat when injuries have been pointed out to neglect); penned deer farms with diseases–a few with CWD that escaped; and their notorious puppy mills say it all. Per capita, the rest of the English world does NOT outweigh the staggering Amish animal abuse and cruelty cases. And these are only the ones where they’ve been caught.
No, there are not “caring” Amish breeders.
They say themselves they see animals as objects, to be treated like objects for profit.
They say themselves they should be able to commit any abuse to an animal that they want to.
Their own words!
But they love to have people believe in fairy tales. They laugh all the way to the bank.
Not sure how this is going to be enforced. There are many puppy companies doing business on the internet from ‘trusted breeders’. The owners of these internet companies – going so far as to write a highly exclusionary and ridiculous terms and conditions while accepting large amounts of money on credit are making money hand over fist in these ‘family’ businesses, getting the finer material things in life (certain family biz Christians, I’m looking at you). Adopt, don’t shop unless you can meet the parents. Please.
I just want to see it enforced… Laws are laws, but enforcing them is a whole other story 😕
Every state should have this law passed to protect the innocent abused animals. The courts need to impose very strict jail time for these cowards who abuse and kill them.
They have dragged their feet too long on prosecuting these cowards.
How about a law that requires AKC to do their due diligence to make sure these requirements have been met by the breeders before they get money for registrations ……if they really care, they should be doings some of the work, not just collecting the millions in registration fees.
AKC cannot “enforce anything–as they try to depict themselves–because they’ve got a huge conflict of interest. For example, say they’ve got a puppy mill breeder, who keeps paying the fees. Does anyone really think that puppy miller is going to get any kind if an in-depth inspection from AKC, even after receiving a complaint? The puppy miller will only show one litter, in their house, and make it all look puppy perfect–it’s a sham.
I agree…they boast AKC as if it means something but the truth be known they take the money and have NO way of weeding out disreputable breeders
How can that be when AKC drops in regularly to check facilities and paperwork. If all is not in order, the kennel looses its privileges, has to pay hefty fine and cannot register anything until reinspected and pass. Then they may be reinstated.
One day I was petting a horse tied up and connected to a carriage. The Amish guy walks over and I said “He looks so tired and cold. He must really work hard !” The guy says ” NOT hard enough !” Made me wonder what else that beautiful creature had to do for him after the carriage was disconnected !
Get tougher, only Rescue and shelter animals sold in pet stores.
Need regulation on rescues. They buy or bring in dogs from other countries to fill rescue needs. These dogs are bringing in contagious diseases that will hurt all animals in the US.
These new laws are a great start, but they are not the fix-all. Those who profit from this disgusting business don’t care about their victims, their only goal is profit. These mills are hidden from the general public and the ag dept *will not*/can not monitor the operations sufficiently. These mills are owned primarily by conscienceless individuals who WILL NOT be intimidated by laws that they know will not be enforced.
I suggest the powers-that-be find a solution for successfully overseeing these operations of cruelty. Perhaps they could consider a volunteer force trained to monitor operations in their counties.
Animals have enormous capacity to suffer. It should not be legal for businesses to profit at the expense of defenseless victims. The best solution to these hell holes is for PUPPY MILLS TO BE A THING OF THE PAST!
It is awesome that this is now a law but why not just get rid of puppy mills all together. It is inhumane for dogs to be bred over and over again just for money hungry people to make a buck on these poor animals. Disqusting and cruel!!!
Mary Ann, Big Agriculture protects its own, and puppy mills are part of Big Ag.
The AKC also profits from puppy mills, despite their lying about it.
When there are wealthy people who hire million dollar lobbyists to oppose laws, the animals lose too often.
That is why more of the public needs to join in this fight.
Take it to the politicians who support this through Big Ag and breeders.
Will the Amish have to adhere to these new laws, also will they be enforced? There are several Amish communities here in Ohio and they play a huge part in puppy mills. I have heard many horror stories of how the Amish treat the animals.
I hate puppy mills and think they should all be shut down. These are lives, not commodities. I can’t understand why our government lets them get away with taking in so much “tax free” money….and they do. I want them to shut down because of the animals but I wish the government would realize how much money they lose and stop them.
Today a friend went to a Pet Store in Berlin Ohio. A puppy there had kennel cough. It was obviou. She has video of it. She told the staff the puppy was sick. They said it wasn’t sick that morning. She then wanted to purchase the dog and they said they couldn’t sell it because it was sick. They knew they were had. I have contacted the Holmes County Humane Society. I left a msg. and am waiting for a reply. I want to know where these dogs came from. I believe being it is in Amish Country there are not a lot of controls in place and probably a lot of hidden puppy mills. If I get no where with the County who do I go next? Something needs done.
Those puppies come from large scale breeders and all breeders with more than 50 females are mills.I live close to berlin so i know . and the owner used to be a miller and probably still is .only buy from a breeder
I myself live in holmes county , the amish are not used better than the rest in dog breeding.I think u should do ur home work ,if u would pass a bill limiting the amount of breeding dogs per breeder to 50 ,the puppy mills WILL disappear. There are a lot of breeders with 100 to 200 females and that is where the mills are.The small breeders with under 50 can and do take better care of the dogs.I know this as a fact so get a 50 dog limit bill thru and the mills will disappear
Kudos to the state of Ohio for passing this law. It takes a great state to acknowledge a problem and fix it head on. Very proud to live in this state!
Though I believe this is a commendable action by politicians, it is still not enough. This month, this day, this very moment millions of live stock are enduring deplorable living conditions in commercial farms across the nation. These animals are living in conditions far worse than those found in puppy mills, but are not receiving the same attention as dogs do. Please contact your local representative and tell them that the animals we eat deserve a better life too. We owe them as much.
As a breeder who has no outdoor kennels or facilities because all of our dogs are our family pets, I am thrilled to see stronger laws. I just wish breeders in general would not be grouped together as evil and the reason dogs die in shelters. Not everyone is best suited for a rescue and many want a specific breed. Good breeders cherish their pets, take excellent care of them, and are hardly making a killing as far as financial gain. Vet bills, quality food, toys, beds, etc. all deplete profit. Most of us also abhor the USDA minimal guidelines for keeping breeding dogs. It’s heartbreaking. I’d love to see those guidelines change. Dogs thrive when around their people, not in kennels with runs. They aren’t livestock.
I agree, Kathy!
I agree with closing down all puppy Mills. I rescued a little 3 pound chi senior, she had been breed her entire life and had crippled legs from being raised in a cage. She had multiple tumors and no teeth. I gave her 6 good years. She was just the sweetest little girl with big brown eyes and a huge heart full of forgiveness!! I finally had to put her down due to organ failure caused by a lifetime of abuse. I will never forget my Molly, I will FOREVER remember the horrible abuse she sufferd, In the hands of a Puppy Mill owner.
I agree with anyone that has more than 50 Females you cannot take care of that many dogs, WE NEED A LAW PASSED FOR NOT MORE THAN 50 FEMALES AND IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN THAT YOUR FINE WILL BE SKY ROCKETING HIGH.
Animal Abusers Exposed. If You Hurt an Animal I Will Tell The World About You Here.
“Your intuition suggests something isn’t right but you’re not sure what it is. It is not until the aftermath that you can see clearly and realize that true life can be more terrifying than a horror movie, that monsters are real and evil preys on the innocent.”
– unknown
I am no longer accepting things I cannot change, I am changing things I cannot accept!
We are all born with compassion RECLAIM YOURS!
“Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation.”
“We will never know true happiness until we learn compassion for all living things.”
– Dali Lahma
For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beast; for all is vanity.
– Ecclesiastes 3:19
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.”
– Abraham Lincoln
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
“To a man whose mind is free there is something even more intolerable in the sufferings of animals than in the sufferings of man. For with the latter it is at least admitted that suffering is evil and that the man who causes it is a criminal. But thousands of animals are uselessly butchered every day without a shadow of remorse. If any man were to refer to it, he would be thought ridiculous. And that is the unpardonable crime.” (v)
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“Stand still, close your eyes and listen; in the silence you can hear the cries of pain and low moans of anguish of animals waiting to die… do everything you can even if today it is just one small thing.”
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– Chief Seattle
“Until we have the courage to recognize cruelty for what it is…whether its victim is human or animal…we cannot expect things to be much better in this world…We cannot have peace among men whose hearts delight in killing any living creature. By every act that glorifies or even tolerates such moronic delight in killing we set back the progress of humanity.”
– Rachel Carson
“If only we can overcome cruelty, to human and animal, with love and compassion we shall stand at the threshold of a new era in human moral and spiritual evolution – and realize, at last, our most unique quality: humanity.”
– Jane Goodall
“The Greatness of a Nation and its Moral Progress can be Judged by the way its Animals are Treated!”
– Mahatma Gandhi
I feel so sad for the living, breathing, feeling animals that have suffered at the hands of men. I feel such anger and even hatred towards those men who would inflict such pain and suffering on an animal that wants only to love and be loved. My mind cannot comprehend such behavior, such lack of compassion. I wonder what goes on in the mind of such sick people who torture, neglect, abuse and fight animals with no sympathy or compassion for what they are doing. I do know that I feel our country has totally inadequate cruelty, abuse and neglect laws to help protect our animals. Even the states with the toughest laws could make tougher ones.
No animal cruelty law should be less than a major felony. No neglect law should be less than a minor felony, at the least. And people caught fighting animals should be locked up for life.
We are all born with compassion RECLAIM YOURS!
Why don’t they pass a law to where there is no more puppy mills at all???
I heartily applaud any effort to save dogs from spending hours in small cages.
But how many of these H$U$ employees keep their dogs locked in small shipping type crates all day?
NOBODY should keep dogs in small cages whether they are a puppymill or “humane” worker.
we’ll see how long this lasts and see if they regulate these scummy mills
If only we had this is Indiana. For that matter, just having some good basic animals in Indiana would be a great start!
A dog is a humans best friend no one should betray them like this they love us ! How could u?