Many Ohioans are animal-lovers. We have pets we love and do our best to take care not only of them, but of other animals when the opportunity arises. Yet too many still purchase dogs rather than adopting from animal shelters.

Puppy mills are big business in Ohio — we are second only to Missouri on the Humane Society of the United States’ “Horrible Hundred” report this year. Twenty of the 100 problem puppy mills on the list are in Ohio.

“Our report is the tip of the iceberg — as shocking as circumstances are in licensed puppy mills, there are many operations that aren’t inspected at all due to legal loopholes,” said John Goodwin, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Stop Puppy Mills campaign.

According to a report by the Akron Beacon Journal, those listed as problem puppy mills in Ohio were: Atlee A. Barkman, Barkman’s Country Kennel of Baltic; John R. Garman of Plymouth; Alvin H. Hershberger, Walnut Lane LAH of Dundee; Rudy L. Lee, Lee Family Kennel of Kinsman; William Mathias of Dover; Atlee M. Miller of Sugarcreek; David A. Miller of Millersburg; Eli J. Miller of Millersburg; Melvin A. Miller of Baltic; Mose A. Miller, Maple View Kennel of Baltic; Wayne E. Miller, Pine Creek Puppies of Millersburg; Andy Nisley, Nunda Valley Kennels of Howard; Daniel J. Schlabach of Apple Creek; Enos and/or Mary Shetler, Woodside Kennel, aka County Line Kennel LLC of Fredericktown; Laverne D. Troyer of Mount Gilead; Reuben H. Troyer of Baltic; Reuben M. Troyer of Millersburg; Andy A. Yoder, A&E Kennel of Sugarcreek; Marvin H. Yoder, Willow Lot Kennel of Millersburg; and Myron Yoder of Baltic.

The list of violations in some of these facilities is horrifying. But Ohioans can do something about it. A person does not perpetuate a business such as these unless money is being made. Stop shopping them. It’s as simple as that.