Puppy Mills in Ohio: What They Are and What Needs to Change
Nearly half of U.S. households have a dog—but many families don’t realize their puppy may have come from a commercial dog breeding operation known as a puppy mill.
Puppy mills prioritize profit over animal welfare. Dogs are often overbred, confined to overcrowded cages, denied proper veterinary care, and given little to no socialization. These are not reputable breeders, yet they frequently disguise themselves through online sales, brokers, and pet stores—making it difficult for buyers to see where puppies truly come from.
Ohio remains one of the worst states in the nation for puppy mills. Although the Ohio Department of Agriculture is responsible for oversight, enforcement is limited. Inspections are typically announced in advance, penalties are often minimal, and only a handful of inspectors are tasked with overseeing hundreds of commercial breeders statewide. As a result, repeat violations are common.
When inspections approach, puppy mills often offload dogs and puppies to shelters and rescues, overwhelming systems that are already stretched thin. Many of these dogs arrive with serious, lifelong health and behavioral issues caused by neglect and poor breeding.
Advocates and rescuers across Ohio see these impacts every day. Stronger laws, unannounced inspections, more inspectors, and meaningful penalties are urgently needed to protect dogs and prevent ongoing abuse. Ohio must also recognize dogs as companion animals—not livestock.
Why This Matters
Ohio has hundreds of high-volume commercial dog breeders and only a handful of inspectors
Inspections are often announced ahead of time, allowing conditions to be concealed
Repeat offenders are rarely shut down
Dogs are still classified similarly to livestock, not companion animals
Shelters and rescues are overwhelmed when mills dump dogs ahead of inspections
What Needs to Change
Ohio lawmakers must:
Require unannounced inspections of commercial breeding facilities
Increase staffing and resources for enforcement
Strengthen penalties for violations and repeat offenders
Close loopholes that allow breeders to relicense under new names
Recognize dogs as companion animals, not livestock
Take Action Now
Use our Action Alert to Hold Puppy Mill Breeders Accountable for Animal Abuse and urge Ohio lawmakers to strengthen protections for dogs.
Animals can’t report their own abuse—we must be their voice. Thank you for being part of the movement to end animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect in Ohio.
