The Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions is spearheading a citizens-backed, ballot initiative - Ohio Dog Auctions Act - to help improve the lives of dogs in commercial breeding operations in Ohio. The measure would make it illegal for anyone to auction or raffle a dog in Ohio. It also would prohibit bringing dogs into the state for sale or trade that were acquired by auction or raffle elsewhere.

 
We need your help to end a major distribution channel serving buyers and sellers from 15 states, many of whom have repeated, long standing violations of the Animal Welfare Act and/or have been convicted of animal cruelty!

 
Given that volunteer petitioners played a major role in the OHF campaign by collecting 160,000 signatures in four months, we are confident this same milestone can be achieved for the Ohio Dog Auctions Act!

 
1. Signatures as of July 1 - Just 153 Days Remaining!

 
As of July 1, a total of 19,538 signatures have been collected of the MINIMUM 120,700 signatures required by December 1, 2010.  326 volunteer Petition Circulators have raised awareness of the Ohio Dog Auctions Act by helping to collect signatures from 74 counties! 

 
For a breakdown of our county goals against actuals as of July 1, please scroll down this page!

 
2. Download a Petition, Attend a Townhall Meeting, Participate in a Signature Gathering!

 
Pledge to collect a minimum of 123 signatures (three full petitions) from Ohio registered voters between now and December 1!  That's less than two signatures per day!

 
A. Campaign Kit! Our campaign kit can help you hit the ground running in collecting signatures from Ohio registered voters!
 
To download the Initiative Petition (Ohio Dog Auctions Act), Instructions for Collecting Signatures and other informational materials, please click here.
 
B. Town Hall Meetings!   Learn more about the Ohio Dog Auctions Act by participating in a Coalition Meeting for your county!

 
Upcoming meetings for July include: 

• Butler (July 10)
• Montgomery (July 24)
• Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull (July 28)

 
For dates, times and locations of all Town Hall Meetings (as they become confirmed), please click here.

 
C. Signature Gatherings!   Participate in some great events where you can meet and talk with Ohio voters!

 
For dates, times and locations of upcoming Signature Gatherings please click here.  (Scroll down the page, past Town Hall Meetings!)

3. Join our Facebook group, Ohio Voters Against Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions!

 
We invite you to join the over 2,150 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.

 
Thanks everyone for continuing to serve as a strong voice for ALL animals! 

Photo by Clay Myers

**Best Friends supports legislation that promotes quality controls and quantity caps for commercial breeders of companion animals. Specifically, we support quality standards that incorporate strict guidelines to ensure that animals’ physical and mental health thrive. Periodic oversight by an authoritative state or local agency and notable penalties that seriously deters recidivism is important. Also supported are statues stating that failure to comply will result in the penalty that a person or entity no will longer allowed to be in the pet-for profit business.