Ohio’s House of Representatives has negotiated a compromise designed to create new legislation governing puppy mills in the state. The vote on the measure was 85-6 in favor. The bill was previously passed by the Senate 32-1. The measure will now be sent to Gov. Kasich for his approval.
The bill will put stiffer legal restrictions on “high-volume dog breeders” as well as redefining, and adding, to who falls under that label. The label would change the definition to a number of puppies sold in a year rather than the current measure of how many litters are bred in a year.
Breeders who fall under the “high-volume” label would be required to meet standards on veterinary care, feeding, housing, exercise, and human contact.
Breeders who fail to follow the new standards will be subject to a 2,500 fine for a first offense and5,000 for second or subsequent offenses.
The new bill has been met with approval by the Humane Society, who look to use Ohio’s new law as an example of higher standards to lobby to other states.
More Information
If you wish to read more about the suite of dog-related bills that has been passed by the Ohio legislature in recent days, the Toledo Blade has an article discussing both the Puppy Mill Bill and the other animal welfare bills.
This new law on Puppy Mills may not specifically apply to your business, but is an example of regulations that you may need to comply with. Speak to an attorney today about what laws your business will need to comply with. An attorney will be able to help you find and comply with the laws that affect your business.
In other news involving laws that might affect your business, retailers specifically will need to keep in mind the recent Supreme Court ruling on sales tax for businesses who operate in multiple states over the internet.
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