A statewide ballot initiative committeee, Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions, has officially kicked off its 2010 campaign to save hundreds of "breeding" dogs which they believe are bought and sold carelessly and often treated heartlessly with little or no regard for their health and well being.

For more information concerning this campaign, we invite you to visit http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com.

It is with deep regret that supporters were forced to cancel the 'Holmes County - Coalition Meeting on the Ohio Dog Auctions Act' scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2010.

The Coalition's efforts to reschedule this meeting from its original date of March 27, has been met with a tremendous amount of resistance from business owners who have expressed concern of "backlash" from members of the Ohio Professional Dog Breeders Association and Ohio Association of Animal Owners, both groups who oppose the Ohio Dog Auctions Act. 

(For a fair and balanced reporting of what took place during the canceled March 27 meeting, we invite you to read the article, Ban Ohio Dog Auction group met with opposition in Holmes county, published by Local Editor, Beverly Keller, of The Budget.)

Despite a growing level of support and publicity for this state-wide ballot initiative from residents within Holmes and surrounding Ohio counties, many of these business owners have expressed concerns they will be threatened and harassed should they extend an opportunity for the Coalition to hold an informational meeting on their private property.

To gain a better appreciation for what Coalition Committee Member Veronica Dickey has faced, we invite you to read the following:

>       March 29.  Reservation for a meeting room is requested at the Hotel Millersburg.  Though the co-owner expressed concern over 'the minor incident that occurred at the public library', he agrees to host a breakfast meeting in a private room for 15, even suggesting the larger room which would be more accommodating.  On April 5, an email is received canceling the reservation.  In the email, the owner states concern over the Coalition advertising the event and his inability to accommodate what he suspects will be too large a crowd for such a small establishment.  Though Veronica reassures him everyone is required to RSVP and seating will be limited to 25 attendees, the co-owner continues to express that although he feels the Coalition is harmless, respectable group, it is the people who oppose you that I am concerned about.  We are a small, local place in the middle of downtown Millersburg, and I am afraid your opposition will come and protest outside my hotel. 

>       April 5.  Reservation for a meeting room is requested at the Berlin Hickory Smokehouse.  The manager, Samantha Anderson, readily agrees to serve the Coalition a special breakfast (to include a vegetarian entr%uFFFDe), open up the restaurant earlier to accommodate the meeting time and allow attendees to enter through the back door, normally reserved for the employees.  On April 13, a call is received canceling the reservation.  Ms Anderson states she has learned about what happened at the Millersburg Library and just doesn't feel comfortable.  She continues to express "You would do the same thing if you owned this restaurant; we have to live here in this small town, and deal with the locals, what else do you expect us to do? 

>      April 13.  Reservation for a meeting room was requested at the Comfort Suites Berlin, a franchise of Choice Hotels International.  Confirmation is received from the hotel reservations agent that a meeting room is confirmed for the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions. On April 14, an email is received from hotel manager, Kent Miller, canceling the reservation: Dear Veronica, I called and left a message also to inform you that we will be unable to host your group at the Comfort Suites Berlin.  Your will not be able to meet here.  Thank you (actual text of e-mail).  Following receipt of that message, no further explanation is given to any member of the Coalition or reporter Nick Sabo, who is writing a story on the state-wide campaign for publication in the April 16 issue of The Daily Record.