Ohio lawmakers watched a video Tuesday that dog activists hope will convince them to crack down on puppy mills.
The video showed filthy conditions, puppies with "cage" paws, and infections. It's all part of a business that has little regulation in Ohio.
"I've had my eyes opened into an all new type of crime that's happening," said Deputy Sheriff McLeish from Washington County.
McLeish testified that his department felt helpless when word came of a puppy mill near Marietta. There's no law that allows law enforcement to investigate, and there's no regulation of kennel licenses.
"Every single county has issues," said Kellie Difrischia of Columbus Dog Connection. "And the problem is we don't know about all of them, because no one takes account for them. No state agency monitors this. We don't have a law to address the problem."
Difrischia is an animal rights activist who is pushing a bill that would establish tough new regulations on Ohio dog breeders. She argued it isn't just about puppies, but also about economics.
"This is an underground economy making millions, perhaps a billion dollars worth of business in Ohio," Difrischia said. "We have all these budget issues. We have this underground economy; they're not paying taxes. This bill can set the minimum standards."
"When we started the bill three years ago, no other state had language," Difrischia added. "Now 32 states have either passed or pending. Ohio could have been the first, but we didn't, but that's okay we're in a good place now, and the time is now."
But State Senator Bill Sietz, a Cincinnati Republican, complained the bill is bogged down in too much legislative language.
"Why do dogs have a right to live in temperatures between 50 degrees and 90 degrees," Sietz asked. "Why do we need to have someone present at all times when a dog is euthanized? Some of these questions strike me as going too far."
"Quit overreaching in an effort to get a good bill passed," Sietz added. "They go too far all the time in listing out a whole lot of things that most people would scratch their head over and say, wait a minute."
One veterinarian testified Tuesday that she has seen a definite increase in mill puppies in the last five years.
"When I started practicing 15 years ago, we didn't see this," said Dr. Suzanne Wilcox. "But in the last five years I would say it has definitely escalated."
Because of that escalation, all sides seem ready to get a bill approved.
"We need to stop talking about it and we need to get something passed," Sietz said.
"Dogs are a non partisan issue," Difrischia agreed. "Everyone loves dogs and it doesn't matter what party you come from."
