Puppy Mill Politics and the Ohio Dog Auction Act

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2009-12-07 07:00:00 UTC
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If you aren't familiar with dog auctions, they're basically puppy mill flea markets. Backyard breeders and puppy mill owners gather to get rid of animals they no longer want for whatever price they can fetch, and to pick up new breeding stock. It's no surprise that the conditions where the dogs are kept and how they're transported are inhumane -- that's par for the course in puppy milling -- but the condition of the dogs themselves and the politics behind these auctions are truly horrifying.

Sometimes puppies are sold to pet stores or other puppy mills for breeding and older dogs are traded among breeders for various reasons. But ill, injured, and maimed dogs also go up on the auction block. When puppy mill owners no longer want to invest in a dog, they put her up for sale, without a care as to who buys the dog or why. They're only interested in walking away with however much they can get, typically anywhere from $1 to $1,000.

How do dogs end up on the higher end of that scale? One contributing factor is the American Kennel Club.

Despite the AKC's core values to "protect the health and well-being of all dogs" and "maintain the integrity of our Registry," they're right there at the auctions, certifying abused and overbred dogs. The fees for these papers, paid by puppy millers and backyard breeders, feeds the coffers of one of the most powerful dog organizations in the country, which explains why the AKC encourages their members to oppose any legislation that tries to regulate puppy mills.

Auctions are a controversial topic among rescue organizations. Whenever auction season rolls around, the lists start flying around the internet, and some purebred rescue groups start pooling their money to "save" dogs. Others feel that it's just another form of buying from a pet shop, which only perpetuates the cycle. That one dog may get out, but in its place, a younger, healthier (for now) version will keep making money for the puppy mill.

In recent years, the number of dog auctions, and the number of dogs sold, has been growing across the country, especially in the Midwest, the Puppy Mill Heartland. In Ohio, there's a movement to get an auction ban on the 2010 ballot. The deadline to collect signatures is only a week away!

If the "Ohio Dog Auction Act" gets passed, it could set a precedent for neighboring states to follow, so if you're an Ohio resident (or have any Ohioans you can pass this info along to), get in touch with the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions to find out how you can get involved. A victory against auctions in the Midwest could be a huge step forward in the fight against puppy mills across the country.

Photo credit: Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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