A Chance to Rally

Are you looking for a chance to make a small difference in a large issue? We received a letter this week explaining how individuals might help in a very local puppy mill case.

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

You may recall that there is a Pre-Trial Conference scheduled for this
coming Friday, August 21 at 2:00 PM in the class-action lawsuit filed
against Donald Dutiel and his cohorts in the "Wagon Wheel Ranch"
operation. (Black, et al., v. Dutiel, et al., case no.: 09CV-00170, Court
of Common Pleas, Perry County, Ohio, Linton Lewis, Judge).

Click here to read the article, "Lawsuit seeks to stop breeder - Wagon
Wheel breeds sick puppies, it alleges."

Although this is not an absolutely crucial event, it is important, and it
would be helpful to have a solid presence from the Ohio animal advocacy
community. If you cannot attend in person, we invite you to contact the
news media or other parties interested in humane causes, and ask if they
can send a representative.

The Pre-Trial Conference will be held in New Lexington, Ohio, in Perry
County, about an hour east southeast of Columbus:

Date:
Fri., 8/21

Time:
2:00 PM

Address:
105 North Main St.
New Lexington, OH 43764

Phone:
(740) 342-3156

Fax:
(740) 342-2188

Map to Courthouse:
http://www.perrycountycourt.com/map.shtml

Perry County Court Website:
http://www.perrycountycourt.com/

Support from concerned citizens would be very much appreciated, and could
very well help the many, possibly hundreds, of Dutiel's victims for whom
we might eventually get a small measure of justice if we can keep this
case going and growing (not to mention the scores that we might keep from
becoming victims).

We'll continue to keep you informed of developments in the case, even if
you cannot attend this week.

Thanks so much for 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://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.lostpetusa.net/

Coming Soon: Puppy Mill Awareness Week!

The warm weather of spring may encourage college students to buy furry friends to keep them company during tiring games of Frisbee or lazy days at Strouds Run, but the ACHS wants to make sure they know exactly where their dogs are coming from.

From March 31st - April 4, the ACHS is hosting Puppy Mill Awareness Week. If you're not familiar with puppy mills, I suggest checking out the HSUS's puppy mill initiative, www.stoppuppymills.org. The Web site has all the information you need to know about these inhumane breeding operations that mistreat animals and raise puppies in shockingly poor conditions.

To help spread awareness about these horrific conditions, the ACHS is actively trying to inform as many college students as it can about puppy mills and how to stop unknowingly supporting them by buying from pet stores. During Puppy Mill Awareness Week, the ACHS will have tables set up at the College Gate and Baker Center from Tuesday, March 31st to Friday, April 4 from 11a.m. - 4p.m. every day with readily available information for students.

On Thursday, April 2, there will be a fundraiser at the Crystal on Court St. from 4-8p.m. (for those of legal age). Donations will be accepted at the door, and all tips will go to ACHS. There will also be great drink specials, so enjoy the winding down of a busy week while supporting the cause!

Puppy Mill Awareness week will end with a peaceful protest against Petland on East State Street in Athens from 11a.m.- 1p.m. on Saturday, April 4. Anyone who would like to participate should meet in the empty lot next to Hollywood Video prepared with signs voicing their opinions against Petland and puppy mills.

Even though the horrors of puppy mills may seem far away, a bust last summer in Parkersburg, W. Va. resulted in 1,000 dogs being saved from scattered run-down sheds on the property, some without access to fresh water. The animals had not received any veterinary care or basic socialization with other animals or humans.

If you're disturbed by puppy mills and their inhumane treatment of dogs, please click the link at the top of this page to sign a petition against them!