|
Ohio Valley Dog Owners, Inc.Protecting dogs, dog owners and our neighbors
|
| Archives |

Welcome
to Ohio Valley Dog Owners, Inc.A coalition of dog clubs, dog-related businesses,
and individual dog lovers in the Ohio River Valley dedicated to responsible
dog ownership and to reasonable laws that protect dogs, dog owners, and our
neighbors.
Membership is open to clubs, individuals, and dog-related businesses.
OVDO supports the National Animal Interest Alliance & is the AKC dog legislation federation for Ohio.
|
UPDATE, Jan 21!! An amended version of SB 130 will be heard in the Senate Agrisulture Committee on January 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Senate Finance Hearing Room in the State Capitol Building. The amendments include...
The remaining provisions listed above are still in the bill. OVDO is working with the Ohio Association of Animal Owners and the Ohio Professional Dog Breeders Association to get changes in the Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. To this end we have testified against the bill, submitted potential amendments, and participated in a panel discussion to answer questions from the committee. AKC also opposes the bill and the Ohio Veterinary Medical Asssociation has asked for changes. Discussions for amendments are taking place. OVDO testimony is here. The AKC letter to the committee is here. Cosponsors are Senator Peggy Lehner of Kettering; Michael J. Skindell of Lakewood; and Nina Turner of Lakewood. Chairman of the Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee is Senator Cliff Hite. Contact Senator Hite at Senate Building
|
Victory in 2010!Three
kennel licensing bills hit the Ohio Legislature in the 2009-2010 session.
SB 95 passed the Senate State and Local Government and Veteran's Affairs
Committee but never received a full Senate vote. Companion bill HB 124
stalled in the House Agriculture and HB 570, also known as McKenzie's Law, was introduced late in the session when it became obvious that SB 95 and HB 124 were in trouble. HB 570 included a number limit on breeder dogs, a low threshhold for licensing as a commercial kennel, breeding restrictions not supported by science, and questionable due process sections that This bill did not get a hearing but is expected to be reintroduced in 2011, and without substantial changes, OVDO will oppose it. On June 30, 2010, Governor Strickland announced a compromise with the Humane Society of the US on agricultural issues, an agreement that included a recommendation to pass SB 95. OVDO, AKC, the Ohio Association of Animal Owners, the Ohio Professional Dog Breeders Association, and other organizations opposed SB 95 as ill-conceived, unfair, overbearing, and financially unsustainable. Among other provisions, SB 95 and HB 124 included
OVDO testimony on HB 124 can be found here (June 24) and here (September 30). Testimony on SB 95 (delivered on behalf of the Clermont County Kennel Club) can be found here. Substitute HB 124 can be found here. SB 95 can be found here. AKC's opposition to both bills is here. Governor Strickland gives Ohio animal owners to HSUSIn Novmber 2009, Ohio lawmakers and voters approved creation of the Livestock Care Standards Board to keep the Humane Society of the US from harassing Ohio farmers into accepting the animal rights organization's version of animal care standards. HSUS opposed the board, saying it would be controlled by agribusiness, and initiated a petition drive to put its own regulations on the ballot. On June 30, 2010, Governor Ted Strickland announced an agreement with HSUS: the animal rights organization would forego filing its initiative for the ballot if the Livestock Care Board adopted HSUS positions AND if the governor pushed for passage of SB 95, the punitive kennel licensing law opposed by OVDO, AKC, OAAO, show and performance dog clubs and breeders and USDA-licensed commercial breeders. The agreement also included a ban on private ownership of certain exotic animals and a recommendation for passage of HB 108, a bill that opened the door for harassment of gamefowl breeders. SB 95 and HB 108 failed in the Senate, and the Governor issued an executive order banning private ownership of several species of exotic animals during his last week in office. A temporary ban is in place until March 6; the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is working on a regulation to implement a permanent ban. For more information on the impact such a ban would have on Ohio's exotic animal owners, see the Ohio Association of Animal Owners.
See these NAIA articles for more information: From firearms to Fido: "Feel Good" Laws Make Things Worse, and the NAIA Guide to Pet Friendly Ordinances |
OVDO
home page Contact Ohio Valley Dog Owners at
ovdog01@canismajor.com
| Archives |