My name is Kelli Ohrtman and I am a campaign specialist for the Puppies Aren’t Products campaign at Best Friends. I have worked at Best Friends since November 2005, when I spent several months at the Katrina rescue camp in Tylertown, Mississippi. I've been passionate about fighting puppy mills since I adopted my Chihuahua, Twinkle, from a rescue group in Minnesota. Twinkle was from a Midwest puppy mill, given up by her breeder because they decided it was too expensive to continue performing c-sections when the tiny dog had trouble giving birth.

While the work is sometimes difficult and includes traveling to rural puppy mills, dog auctions and pet stores, I find it extremely rewarding to educate the public about the issue. Once people truly understand where pet store and Internet puppies come from, they will never buy one again.
Most of my time is spent spreading the word about puppy mills through educational materials, peaceful pet store rallies, petitions, and support of puppy mill legislation, and other methods.

I have five dogs including three larger mixed breed dogs, a Poodle, and of course Twinkle. I also live with two cats—one who thinks he’s a dog.