Dogs saved from Ohio puppy mill thriving, more foster homes needed

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - It's been almost a week since dozens of dogs saved from a puppy mill in Holmes County arrived in the Tri-State.

Local 12 has followed this story since the beginning and are happy to report the pups are doing great.

Owner Janel Hemrick said giving them love and affection has been life changing.

She still has five more dogs that need foster homes.

They were part of the more than 70 dogs that Paws for Miles brought to Loveland last week from a puppy mill that was about to under go a state inspection. Aaron Jones, a board member with Paws for Miles, said the breeder called them to say come get the dogs or else.

A Humane Society list of the worst states for puppy mill breeders put Ohio in a second place tie with Iowa. Missouri was the worst.

The problem is said to be the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Vicki Deisner, with Ohio’s Animal Welfare Institute, told Local 12 that she doesn’t think that breeders should get an advanced warning that an inspection is going to happen.

“Even though no other state nor the USDA do that, so what has happened is a 10-fold increase in the dumping of dogs. With a two days’ notice ODA gives to breeders, they end up contacting rescues and saying you either take these dogs or we are going to kill them," said Deisner.

Deisner added that the change from surprise visits to scheduled ones was made a year ago due to the high number of breeders in the state. She estimated that there are close to 500.

A spokeswoman for ODA, Meghan Harshbarger, said in a statement to Local 12 that there are five inspections who work in its Commercial Dog Breeding program. When asked if the visits are scheduled, here was the answer:

ODA’s inspectors conduct at least one annual inspection as outlined by law. ORC 956.10(B)(4) states we may 'conduct an inspection under this section during regular business hours without providing notice in advance.' Generally, we provide a short notice to a licensee that we will be conducting an inspection, but we always have the regulatory authority to conduct an unannounced inspection.

State representative Sara Carruthers said she’s looking to toughen the rules.

“I understand these people want to make money, they make a lot of money. But there’s something about a value of a life. We are all fighting to keep babies alive. Well, we’d like to keep animals alive too, their lives have merit too," said Carruthers.

If Carruthers is reelected in November, she’ll introduce a bill. She’s not sure of the details yet, but she doesn’t think dogs should be in the same category as cows or other livestock under the ODA.

“I don’t think we can give them a heads up before we investigate. We don’t give restaurants a heads up, we don’t give hairdressers a heads up before the Department of Health goes in," said Carruthers.

Paws for Miles said it's completed over 25 vet and 33 grooming appointments thanks to community support.

Click here for a link to Paws for Miles.

Click here for a link to the Myles Ahead Sanctuary, which has the five dogs in need of foster homes.