The state has approved the petition summary of animal rights groups who are asking voters to approve a measure requiring dog breeders to meet additional care standards. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.
The group Stop Puppy Mills Ohio has received approval for language for a proposed constitutional amendment they say would make commercial dog breeding more humane. It would limit the number of litters a female dog could produce in her lifetime, and it would also spell out care standards for puppies and breeder dogs. The movement to put this before voters is backed by the Humane Society of the United States as well as other statewide and local animal welfare groups. They will have until July 4th to collect about 306,000 valid signatures to put the issue on the ballot next November. The measure is likely to be opposed by Amish breeders and some pet stores, including Petland. Those are the same forces that were instrumental in getting a law passed last year that made it illegal for local communities to regulate pet stores.
