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/

Photos from Allen Pet Clinic Party and Breed Specific Legislation

I've gotten photos from the Allen Pet Clinic Party, mostly of our dear friend Maddison, who is adoptable through us. She was there for a heartworm test, and was just a sweetheart the entire time.

Maddison is a pitbull, and many people were hesitant to approach her because of that fact. But Maddison is well behaved, and living proof that the breed of a dog does not determine its temperament. Maddison did quite well with all the cats (although they did not like her so much!) and was wonderful with every child who approached her.

The Humane Society is opposed to breed specific legislation, which is normally aimed at dogs like Maddison. You can read the Humane Society of the United States' official position on "dangerous dogs" and breed specific legislation (BSL) here.

Unfortunately, some areas of Ohio have enacted breed specific legislation, a list of which can be found here.



While laws may not always be "fair", they are unfortunately the law, and must be followed. Currently, Athens County has no breed specific legislation in action, some of our neighboring counties do. It is important to know the laws regarding animal ownership, and to fight them, when appropriate and necessary through legal means like petitioning and public education.

Since I've started volunteering with the ACHS, I've been asked any number of questions. One of the least asked questions is "How can I help?", which saddens me. One way that people can help without committing time, effort, or money (although you're more than welcome to, in fact, encouraged, to help with those things!) is to be knowledgeable about our organization and what we do, as well as the welfare laws and rights concerning animals. By learning these things, and passing them on, you do help in your own special way. Word of mouth is a very powerful thing, and a lot of animals end up in bad situations due to misinformation.

For example, I am pictured here at the Allen Pet Clinic Party speaking to a woman about just some of the many things we do. Our vice president, Shelly Lieberman, must be a ninja with a camera, because I never even knew I was being photographed. Kudos to her!