PRELIMINARY REPORT! Ohio Dog Auctions Act - Signature Drive (Phase 2)

December 23, 2009

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

As we approach the close of what has proven to be a very challenging year for people and animals, I wanted to give you a preliminary report on Phase 2 of our signature drive for the Ohio Dog Auctions Act.

1. Cleveland Plain Dealer Article - Monday, December 14. If you didn't get the chance to read Donna Miller's article, "Effort to ban dog auctions requires 120,700 signatures: Animals in the News," please (Thank you Donna!) As a result of her efforts to highlight our signature drive, we received over 531 calls (a large percentage of callers were from Ohio residents over the age of 60) and e-mails from readers across the state asking how they can support the Ohio Dog Auctions Act!

We are very grateful for the coverage and hope Donna (along with other reporters across the country) will provide continuing coverage of this very important campaign!

2. Signature Drive - Where We Are Right Now. Although the 'deadline" date of December 14 has passed, we are continuing to receive a high volume of Petitions (representing signatures from 61 counties) from across the state! Because of this, we will not announce 'final' results until Monday, December 28. Given the dedication and commitment of so many incredible people who have played a lead role this campaign, a component of the results will include a list of everyone who helped collect signatures (aka 'Petition Circulators'), their city and the number of signatures collected for each of their counties. (To retain each person's confidentiality, only

the first and initial of last name will be published.)

A special "two paws up" to the following supporters (these are just a few of the many dedicated folks we will be highlighting over the next few weeks):

Team Walker (representing three Petition Circulators), who exceeded their signature goal of 402 for Coshocton county by 104.23%! This is especially noteworthy given that Coshocton county serves as home to Lanzie "Junior" Horton, a commercial breeder (formerly of Virginia) who was convicted of 14 animal cruelty and 25 neglect charges in July of 2008 AND continues to purchase dogs at the Ohio Dog Auction in Farmerstown. For more coverage of Junior's puppy mill operation,

Molly Stancliff, Co-Founder of the group, Buckeyes for Canines, who collected signatures from 20 counties across Ohio! Molly was one of several college campus groups (includes students and staff from Cleveland State University SAVE) who have done a tremendous job helping to raise awareness of the Ohio Dog Auctions and the entities that support and keep this auction in business.

Team Wheeler (representing four Petition Circulators, including staff from Grateful Dog Bakery in N. Ridgeville and Camp Bow Wow - Ohio), who collected signatures from 11 counties across Ohio!

Committee Member (and devoted cat lover) Veronica Dickey, who has collected over 2,600 signatures from six counties across Ohio (includes Phase 1 and 2 of our signature drives)!

IMPORTANT: Please be rest assured that if for any reason we fail to meet our signature goal by year end (collecting a minimum of 120,700 valid signatures to put the proposed law before the Legislature in January 2010), we will be re-launching our campaign in January AND ALL OF THE SIGNATURES COLLECTED AS OF 12/31 WILL REMAIN VALID AND WILL BE CARRIED OVER FOR THE RE-LAUNCH!

3. Ohio Voters Against Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions. If you haven't done so already, we invite you to join the over 1,400 voices who have become members of our FaceBook group, "Ohio Voters Against Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions." Membership is FREE, and our portal serves as a great vehicle in which to receive timely updates on issues and campaigns addressing Ohio dog auctions, puppy mills and the entities that support and keep them in business.

For more information on how you can become a member, please

4. My Father's Passing - Gerald D. O'Connor. As already announced to many of you earlier this week, it is with great sadness that I share my father lost his brave battle against Alzheimer's Friday morning, December 11, and has now joined his mother, father and six brothers (as well as their spouses) who preceded him in death. A very special "thank you" to those of you who have extended condolences and compassion during this very difficult time. (His wake is taking place in Lima, Ohio today and tomorrow, with burial services on Saturday morning.)

My father was an extraordinary man who was a true "Horatio Alger" story. Having lost his father, Michael O'Connor, at the age of six (my grandmother, Mary O'Connor, was six months pregnant with her seventh child at the time of my grandfather's death) and his mother at the age of 18, he survived incredible odds to become the Founder and President of Range Kleen Manufacturing Inc., one of the most highly respected distribution companies within the housewares industry. Despite his success, he never forgot his humble beginnings. He maintained a strong devotion to his faith and country, embraced life for all its beauty and gave generously to causes and issues that had a profound impact on people and animals across the globe.

It has been a difficult and bittersweet journey for all of us who have loved this intelligent, successful and compassionate man over the course of his lifetime. I ask that you please continue to keep our family, as well as those who have lost a loved one to this terrible disease, in your thoughts and prayers.

For the animals,

Mary O'Connor-Shaver

Cell: 614-271-8248

Columbus Top Dogs

http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com

http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com

http://www.ThoughtsFurPaws.com

http://petnewsandviews.com

http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/

http://www.LostPetUSA.net

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

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