By Erin Daehler
An Ohio bill is seeking to expand regulations and oversight on puppy mills. The bill, Senate Bill 232, was introduced in 2025 by Senator Casey Weinstein. The bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Weinstein gave sponsor testimony on October 28, 2025.
To delve deeper into S.B. 232, we spoke to Vicki Deisner, Executive Director and a founder of the Ohio Animal Advocates organization. Ohio Animal Advocates is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to making Ohio a place where all animals are protected from cruelty, abuse and neglect.
Vicki shared that Ohio’s current puppy mill regulations do not address the intent of the current law passed in 2018. The 2018 legislation stated that any euthanasia or surgery required must be done by a licensed veterinarian. The word “required” was interpreted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) as meaning only medically required surgeries. ODA allows cosmetic surgeries, such as tail docking or dewclaw removal, which involves the cutting of bone, soft tissue, nerves and blood vessels, to be done by breeders, without anesthesia and often without pain medicine. S.B. 232 would explicitly require that all surgeries be performed by licensed veterinarians. The bill would also require unannounced inspections. (In 2023, ODA switched to announced inspections. Currently, breeders have the ability to prepare for these inspections and hide the true nature of these living conditions.)
To gain some perspective on puppy mills in Ohio, Humane World for Animals releases the annual Horrible Hundred reports on the 100 worse puppy mill breeders in the United States. Missouri has ranked with the highest dealers (26) for the 13th year in a row, with Ohio at second (16). More than half of the breeders in the Horrible Hundred report are USDA licensed, which means they can legally sell large numbers of puppies to pet stores and online to consumers they haven’t met in person. Many puppy mills in this report have stayed in business despite recurring animal care violations. The conditions in which many of these dogs and puppies live are inhumane. The dogs used for breeding are mainly seen as a means to provide a product, while the puppies are often born with defects and health issues, more than likely caused by inbreeding. This leads to many of the puppies sold living a life of illness and often passing away prematurely.
Although the situation may seem dire, you can make a difference! The first and most important thing when purchasing a dog is to adopt, not shop. We as consumers hold power. Until buying behavior changes regarding puppy shopping, breeders will continue to meet that demand for puppies.
Vicki also shared the importance of reaching out to your state Senator. The next step for S.B 232 is what is called a proponent hearing. Please use your voice to show how important this issue is to Ohio voters by contacting your state senator, which can be beneficial when it comes to building momentum. Grassroots efforts and sharing with your community can help get the word out. Ohio Animal Advocates has resources to help you get started. Visit their website to learn more about the bill as well as other issues and ways to get involved in animal advocacy in your community.