Perhaps you learned from this blog or elsewhere that companion pet lovers have been petitioning for a ban to Ohio dog auctions.

To force the state legislature to vote on the issue in November 2010, 120,700 signatures were needed from registered voters in at least 44 of the state's 88 counties.

The deadline has passed. Signatures totaled only 7,202.

However, the campaign will re-launch Jan. 19 and retain all the signatures already collected, according to ColumbusTopDogs.com:

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

The opposition (stakeholders who profit from Ohio dog auctions and puppy mill breeding) are betting that we (as a humane community) will become discouraged and defeated by the obstacles to meeting our goal! But remember the words of Henry Ford, "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

Details on the re-launch coming soon.

I'll keep ya posted on when and were you can add your support.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com