Meeting aims to ban dog and puppy auctions in Ohio

north lima

Several elected officials and animal-welfare representatives will meet next week to review a ballot initiative aimed at banning dog auctions in Ohio.

The meeting is set for noon Wednesday at Angels for Animals, state Route 165.

Dog auctions are employed by puppy mills and unscrupulous large-scale dog breeders to anonymously get their dogs to the open market. Dogs and puppies sold through dog auctions often live in terrible conditions.

Dog auctions in Ohio occur primarily in Holmes County.

The initiative would affect only dog auctions. Livestock auctions would not be affected.

If passed, the bill would end dog auctions on the Internet and would ban the giving of dogs and puppies as raffle prizes. Ohio is one of the last seven states that allows dog auctions and ranks 43rd in general

animal-care laws.

Pennsylvania recently banned dog auctions.

State Sens. Joseph A. Schiavone and Capri Cafaro and state Rep. Ron Gerberry have been invited to the meeting. Confirmed guests are the Mahoning County commissioners; Mahoning County Auditor Mike Sciortino; Columbiana County Commissioner Penny Traina; Dave Nelson, Mahoning County interim dog warden; and Dawn Croft, Columbiana County dog warden.

For the full story, read Saturday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.