“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
Katerina Lorenzatos Makris is the author of 17 novels for
publishers including Avon, E.P. Dutton, and Simon & Schuster, and
hundreds of articles for publications such as National Geographic
Traveler, San Francisco Chronicle, and Veggie Life. She wrote a
teleplay for CBS and short fiction for The Bark magazine. With coauthor
Shelley Frost, she wrote Your Adopted Dog
(The Lyons Press). Holding a B.A. in Environmental Science Studies and
a lifelong interest in animal issues, she spends a lot of her time
battling a severe addiction to dogs.
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