Fwd: UPDATE: May 30, 2009 Farmerstown Dog Auction

May 30, 2009

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

1. May 30, 2009 ("Back to the Kennel Sale" Farmerstown Dog Auction. Below is a summary of the 168 companions (82 males, 86 females) expected to be placed on the auction block beginning this Saturday at approximately 9:30 AM:

BREED

18 MONTHS AND YOUNGER

OLDER THAN 18 MONTHS

MALES

FEMALES

MALES

FEMALES

Affen Pincher

6

2

4

0

Bichon

13

4

2

3

4

Boston Terrier

2

1

0

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

8

5

1

0

2

Chihuahua

1

0

1

Cocker Spaniel

10

5

1

3

Collie

1

0

1

Coton De Tulear

1

0

1

0

English Bulldog

2

1

0

1

Fox Terrier

1

0

1

0

French Bulldog

2

0

2

0

Golden Retriever

1

0

1

Havanese

11

8

3

0

Japanese Chin

11

0

1

10

Lhasa Apso

3

2

1

0

Maltese

4

2

0

1

Mini Dachshund

2

1

0

1

0

Mini Pincher

3

1

0

Mixed Breeds

12

4

8

0

Papillon

8

0

2

4

Pekingese

3

2

0

1

0

Pomeranian

11

2

3

4

2

Poodle (no Classification)

4

2

1

0

1

Pug

11

1

4

5

Schnauzer

1

0

1

Shetland Sheepdog

2

0

1

Shibu Unu

2

0

1

Shih Tzu

10

2

1

3

4

Toy Fox Terrier

4

0

4

Yorkshire Terrier

18

9

5

3

1

TOTAL

168

54

38

28

48

You may be interested to know that a 2008 report issued by the USDA has confirmed Ohio ranks seventh among the top 10 states with the largest number of USDA Class A licensed "commercial" breeders:

1. MO - 1,525

2. OK - 575

3. IA - 430

4. KS - 401

5. AR - 339

6. PA - 195

7. OH - 168 (a 600% increase in the number of Class A licensed "commercial" breeders just five years ago!)

8. NE - 153

9. TX - 115

10. SD and MN - 102

2. Peaceful Rally Against the May 30 Farmerstown Auction. A Peaceful Rally against the next Farmerstown Dog Auction has been scheduled for Saturday, May 30 from 10-2 PM near the entrance to Berlin, Ohio. Lisa Anderson, Rally Coordinator and a dedicated volunteer

with Humane Society of Delaware County, was instrumental in helping to lead a successful rally in January. Her goal is to have a minimum of 40 supporters in attendance on May 30 to help raise awareness of the Farmerstown auction and its relationship to puppy mill breeders. To RSVP and receive additional details concerning this Rally, please contact Lisa at lisadonne40.

(JUNIOR HORTON - BREEDER/BUYER AT FARMERSTOWN DOG AUCTION: A high profile buyer during the Farmerstown dog auctions, Lanzie ("Junior") Horton, Jr., was recently charged with one count of failure to maintain records, one count of having in excess of 50 dogs, two counts of having no breeding certificates and 12 counts of animal neglect by an animal dealer. Junior was convicted of multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect in 2008, and now faces new charges after a surprise visit to his property on

1/27/09. The unannounced inspection was conducted by Carroll County Animal Control Officer Terry Woods along with a representative of the office of the State Veterinarian. Junior's future as a commercial dog breeder is in question because a new Virginia law which addresses and limits the number of breeding animals went into effect 1/1/09. In addition, this new law bans anyone with animal cruelty convictions from commercial breeding of animals. Junior was convicted of animal cruelty in 2008 by both the Carroll County General District Court and the Carroll County Circuit Court. Junior has appealed the convictions and is awaiting a decision.) It is our understanding Junior currently has a breeding kennel operating in Coshocton County, Ohio.

3. Bark Heard Around the World. For many years, Puppymillrescue Inc. has taken in the abused, malnourished, old, young and sickly from the mills of Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and many other states. Now they find they no longer have to leave their homes in upstate NY to transport dogs in need from the mills - they're right in their own backyard and spreading rapidly.

To educate citizens about the horrific abuse taking place in those "beautiful white barns", Puppymill Rescue Inc. invites animal advocates from across the country to participate in the second annual "Bark Heard Around the World" to be held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY from 10AM - 4PM on Sat., May 30th, 2009. To learn more about this event, we invite you to visit the website - > http://www.barkaroundtheworld.com/.< /font>

4. BanOhioDogAuctions.com. BanOhioDogAuctions does not promote or encourage individuals or groups to purchase dogs from auctions or directly from puppy mill breeders. For a great many (and a growing number) of us, initiating efforts to ban the auctions is one way to take away the demand, and we strongly believe introducing legislation similar to that of PA's statute 459-603 will impact the

mills. In our opinion, as long as you have a buyer, there is always a need for the seller.

With that said, BanOhioDogAuctions will continue working with several national animal advocacy groups, as well as the media, to help fund more undercover investigations of puppy mills, dog auctions, pet stores and the entities that support and keep them in business. And of course, supporters will continue pressuring elected state and local officials (includes the Holmes County, OH Commissioners) to also support a ban on dog auctions.

If you would like to share your concerns regarding the Farmerstown Dog Auctions, I would encourage you to:

1. Write (or fax) letters to the Holmes County Commissioners (Joe Miller, Ray Feikert and Rob Ault) asking them to support a ban on Ohio dog auctions. Emphasize that you will not be spending any dollars in HolmesCounty until this event no longer takes place in their community!

The contact information is:

2 Court Street, Ste 14

Millersburg, OH 44654-2001

Phone: 330-674-0286

Fax: 330-674-0566

E-mail: hcc

SAMPLE LETTER - Please personalize the email message by expressing your opinion in your own words; it's much more effective!

Dear Commissioners Miller, Feikert and Ault:

Over the past nine years, my husband and I have made numerous trips to HolmesCounty to purchase cheeses, baked goods, quilts and furniture. I have also been a frequent customer at many of the numerous restaurants in HolmesCounty. We have enjoyed our stays at the local accommodations, taking longs weekends and summer vacations there.

BUT no more! Until I learn that the Dog Auctions have been discontinued, I will not be visiting or spending money in your community!

Please be aware that I have asked all of my family, friends and elected officials to do the same.

2. Ask the same from all your friends (don't forget to include your vet!), family, co-workers and state elected officials - http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/!

Thanks everyone for your continued dedication to serving as a strong voice for the dogs!

Mary O'Connor-Shaver

Cell: 614-271-8248

Columbus Top Dogs

http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com

http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com

http://www.LostPetUSA.net

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

P.S. You or someone you know has requested you be added to the Columbus Top Dogs email list. If you do not want to receive emails from columbustopdogs.com, please reply and put "remove from list" in subject. Thank you!

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