Fwd: IMPORTANT UPDATE! Ballot Initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) - 'Phase 2 Relaunch'

January 31, 2010

Mary O'Connor-Shaver <mshaver_0462

info

Fri, Jan 29, 2010 5:54 am

IMPORTANT UPDATE! Ballot Initiative (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) - 'Phase 2 Relaunch'

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

The momentum for our ballot initiative 'Phase 2 Relaunch' continues to gain tremendous speed, and we are very grateful (as was the case with 2009), for two national animal welfare organizations, Animal Law Coalition and the ASPCA, who continue to offer their full support in helping us promote this campaign to their 55,000-plus members across the country!

A. IN THE NEWS...

If you didn't get the chance to read:

> Supporter Karen Fike's January 21 Westlake/ Bay Village Observer article, Dog auctions in Ohio need to be banned!, please (Thank you Karen!)

> Pet News and Views blogger, Michele Hollow's January 12 article, Efforts to end Ohio's Dog Auctions Continues, please (Thank you Michele!)

> News-Herald reporter Jason Lea's January 11 article, Activists want to ban dog auctions, please (Thank you Jason!). Also, a very special thanks to Jason's fellow reporter, Sandra Klepach, who continues to provide timely updates on her blog, News-Herald Blogs > Pets Unleashed. To read her latest article, Meeting with Senator Grendell to Discuss Ohio Dog Auctions Act, please (Thank you Sandra!)

> Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Donna Miller's January 8 article, Petition drive to ban dog auctions and curb Ohio puppy mills: Animals in the News, please And her December 11 article, Effort to ban dog auctions requires 120,700 signatures: Animals in the News, please (Thank you Donna!)

We are very grateful for these news stories and letters (which resulted in our team receiving over 800 calls and e-mails from readers across the state asking how they can support the Ohio Dog Auctions Act), and hope Karen, Michelle, Donna, Jason, Sandra (along with other reporters, bloggers and concerned citizens across the Ohio) will continue writing about this very important campaign!

For a complete listing of media releases relating to our ballot initiative, please

B. WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW...

As of January 1, we have collected a total of 7,202 of the minimum 120,700 signatures needed to successfully complete Phase 2 of our drive. A HUGE THANKS to the 228 volunteer Petition Circulators who helped raise awareness of the

Ohio Dog Auctions Act by helping to collect signatures from 64 counties! We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of these dedicated individuals, many of whom work full-time jobs, are raising families as single parents and/or contribute time and energy to various humane organizations across the state.

Despite reaching just under 6% of our signature goal, this still represented a very strong showing given that Phase 2 of our signature drive was not launched until after the November 3, 2009 election (efforts from our volunteers and supporters were focused on defeating Ohio Issue 2).

Because so many people across Ohio and beyond feel passionately in supporting a ban on dog auctions, we are continuing to move full steam ahead with 'Phase 2 Relaunch' of our signature drive; collecting a minimum of 120,700 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters by December 1, 2010. The signatures are necessary to put the proposed law before the Legislature in January 2011.

If our lawmakers do not move on the proposed legislation within 120 days, our team will proceed to 'Phase 3'; gathering another minimum 120,700 valid signatures from registered voters to put the Ohio Dog Auctions Act on the 2011 ballot.

C. WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR 'PART 2 RELAUNCH'...

Now more than ever, 'Phase 2 Relaunch' of our signature drive will require us to move fast and smart in collecting a minimum of 121,700 signatures by December 1, 2010! To ensure this signature drive is successful and meets the requirements mandated by the Secretary of State, two important steps must take place:

The total number of signatures collected for our Petition must equal at least three percent (3%) of the total vote cast for the office of governor during the 2006 gubernatorial election, and

Signatures must be collected from at least 44 of the 88 counties in Ohio.

To view the minimum number of signatures required for each of the 88 Ohio counties, as well as where we stood as of January 1 relative to our goal of ensuring we have a minimum of 120,700 signatures by December 1, 2011, please scroll to the bottom of this page!

D. TO HELP US SUCCEED WITH 'PART 2 RELAUNCH'...

New Campaign Kits! To help everyone hit the ground running, we have created a new campaign kit which contains a media release, an informational sheet on the top questions (with answers) everyone needs to know on Ohio dog auctions and an informational sheet on best strategies in helping to raise awareness and gather signatures from registered voters.

To download these and other informational materials, including a copy of the Initiative Petition (Ohio Dog Auctions Act), please

Town Hall Meetings! If you've been following our Facebook messages, you've probably read that part of our strategy will include Town Hall meetings throughout Ohio. The purpose of these events is to introduce attendees to the team who have been instrumental in leading and supporting our campaign for the various counties, and to provide everyone an opportunity to ask questions and engage in meaningful dialogue on the proposed legislation.

January 25 Townhall Meeting at Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village with Senator Tim Grendell (R-18). A very special thanks to Senator Grendell, Fox 8 Cleveland, April Scott (pet products and accessories specialty store, Dachshund Delights), Matt Granito (Geauga County Dog Warden) and our guests representing eight humane organizations (Save R Dogs Ohio, Paws

Pantry, Pet Fix Northeast Ohio, Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village, Cleveland Animal Protective League, Cleveland State University SAVE, Geauga City Dog Shelter and Valley Save-A-Pet), who helped make this event a success!

(To our good fortune, Fox 8 Cleveland aired our meeting on the 6 p.m. news. The segment included an interview with Senator Grendell in which he confirmed support of the Coalition's efforts to end dog auctions, that he hopes we continue to make progress with the Initiative Petition signature drive and that he would like to see Ohio pass legislation modeled after PA's Statute 459-603.)

In addition to Geauga, we are currently working in partnership with dedicated animal advocates to hold meetings during February, March and April in the following counties - Athens, Butler, Columbiana, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Montgomery and Richland.

For dates, times and locations of upcoming Town Hall Meetings (as they become confirmed), please

Signature Gathering! With over 121,000 signatures needed for our Initiative Petition to be placed on the 2011 ballot, we'll

need many volunteers to help us get there!

The first (of what we anticipate will be many) Signature Gathering is scheduled to take place during the Houses for Hounds fundraiser this Saturday, January 30 from 10-4:00 p.m. at Delaware (Ohio) Area Career Center.

For dates, times and locations of upcoming Signature Gatherings (as they become confirmed), please

E. NOW IS THE TIME TO SERVE AS A STRONG VOICE FOR THE DOGS!

The next Ohio Dog Auction is scheduled to take place on February 13. Over 300 dogs are expected to be placed on the block. Now is the time to send a strong message to our state legislators that dog auctions are an embarrassment to Ohio and its humane minded citizens, and voters and taxpayers are committed to supporting a 2011 ballot initiative to ban these events from our community!

Again, we greatly appreciate all your dedication and support for the dogs!

P.S. If you haven't done so already, we invite you to join the over 1,700 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

P.S.S. If you are interested in purchasing any of our low cost campaign gear (car magnets, lawn signs, t-shirts, etc.) or making a donation through PayPal to help raise awareness of Ohio dog auctions and their relationship to puppy mill breeders, please

County

Total votes cast in 2006 governor's race

3% (the MINIMUM number of signatures we need to collect by 12/1/10)

The total number of signatures we have collected as of 1/1/10

Percent of Goal

Adams

8,685

261

14

5.36%

Allen

36,229

1,087

0

0.00%

Ashland

19,355

581

14

2.41%

Ashtabula

33,865

1,016

5

0.49%

Athens

19,840

595

114

19.16%

Auglaize

16,907

507

0

0.00%

Belmont

23,996

720

0

0.00%

Brown

14,044

421

1

0.24%

Butler

115,895

3,477

65

1.87%

Carroll

11,152

335

5

1.49%

Champaign

14,264

428

2

0.47%

Clark

49,056

1,472

1

0.07%

Clermont

65,010

1,950

31

1.59%

Clinton

12,646

379

0

0.00%

Columbiana

36,223

1,087

2

0.18%

Coshocton

13,408

402

419

104.23%

Crawford

16,744

502

0

0.00%

Cuyahoga

454,100

13,623

1,986

14.58%

Darke

20,223

607

0

0.00%

Defiance

13,638

409

0

0.00%

Delaware

64,773

1,943

192

9.88%

Erie

30,106

903

10

1.11%

Fairfield

54,004

1,620

23

1.42%

Fayette

8,402

252

1

0.40%

Franklin

373,258

11,198

1,071

9.56%

Fulton

16,141

484

1

0.21%

Gallia

10,165

305

0

0.00%

Geauga

39,148

1,174

304

25.89%

Greene

59,113

1,773

0

0.00%

Guernsey

13,375

401

2

0.50%

Hamilton

287,496

8,625

162

1.88%

Hancock

25,675

770

249

32.34%

Hardin

9,723

292

13

4.45%

Harrison

6,095

183

0

0.00%

Henry

11,473

344

0

0.00%

Highland

13,158

395

0

0.00%

Hocking

9,860

296

330

111.49%

Holmes

8,108

243

12

4.94%

Huron

18,917

568

3

0.53%

Jackson

10,423

313

103

32.91%

Jefferson

26,133

784

0

0.00%

Knox

20,780

623

12

1.93%

Lake

88,006

2,640

299

11.33%

Lawrence

19,109

573

1

0.17%

Licking

59,051

1,772

24

1.35%

Logan

16,080

482

7

1.45%

Lorain

100,632

3,019

348

11.53%

Lucas

142,784

4,284

52

1.21%

Madison

13,441

403

17

4.22%

Mahoning

95,251

2,858

4

0.14%

Marion

21,691

651

11

1.69%

Medina

65,511

1,965

110

5.60%

Meigs

7,707

231

13

5.63%

Mercer

15,646

469

1

0.21%

Miami

37,054

1,112

23

2.07%

Monroe

6,066

182

0

0.00%

Montgomery

189,201

5,676

90

1.59%

Morgan

5,516

165

11

6.67%

Morrow

12,575

377

8

2.12%

Muskingum

28,719

862

9

1.04%

Noble

5,072

152

0

0.00%

Ottawa

17,207

516

0

0.00%

Paulding

7,479

224

0

0.00%

Perry

11,291

339

1

0.29%

Pickaway

17,960

539

141

26.16%

Pike

9,776

293

0

0.00%

Portage

54,970

1,649

60

3.64%

Preble

15,553

467

2

0.43%

Putnam

14,161

425

0

0.00%

Richland

45,799

1,374

18

1.31%

Ross

23,839

715

2

0.28%

Sandusky

22,736

682

1

0.15%

Scioto

26,369

791

0

0.00%

Seneca

20,051

602

1

0.17%

Shelby

17,029

511

0

0.00%

Stark

139,414

4,182

269

6.43%

Summit

197,747

5,932

297

5.01%

Trumbull

81,128

2,434

18

0.74%

Tuscarawas

31,585

948

43

4.54%

Union

16,877

506

14

2.77%

Van Wert

10,409

312

0

0.00%

Vinton

4,422

133

12

9.02%

Warren

68,091

2,043

21

1.03%

Washington

22,788

684

0

0.00%

Wayne

38,546

1,156

113

9.78%

Williams

13,033

391

0

0.00%

Wood

45,616

1,368

13

0.95%

Wyandot

8,160

245

1

0.41%

TOTAL COUNTIES

4,022,754

120,682

7,202

5.97%

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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