WALNUT CREEK, OH – The 9^th Annual Ohio Dog Breeder Symposium recently brought together breeders from across the state to discuss how dog breeding practices are evolving, and the positive impact it is having on dogs and puppies. Approximately 250 people attended the event hosted by Petland, American Kennel Club (AKC), Purina Pro Plan, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ohio Forum for Companion Animals. The symposium featured a welcome by the USDA; a legislative update from Petland’s VP of Animal Welfare Brian Winslow; presentations by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA); Drs. Antoinette Marsh and Luciana da Costa of The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine; and members of the local breeder community.

Dr. Melissa Simmerman leads ODA’s Commercial Dog Breeding office that works to ensure Ohio breeders, whether individuals or commercial, comply with state law and raise healthy dogs that enter the marketplace to find forever homes. In her presentation, Dr. Simmerman focused on the advancements and improvements being recognized in Ohio’s dog breeding industry, especially citing pet socialization. Improvements around pet socialization, as well as the environment and the physical health of dogs and puppies, can be linked to the growing number of Ohio’s commercial breeders who have been educated and have undergone a stringent audit process to achieve the standards developed by Purdue University in its Canine Care Certified (CCC) program.

Earlier this year, faculty from the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine arranged for the first-year OSU veterinary students to visit some commercial breeders in Ohio’s Amish community. The breeders have undergone education and implemented CCC processes and protocols, with each certified through a robust audit process. Many of the students had never been to a dog breeding operation prior to the visit; and some had negative preconceptions of dog breeding operations. In her remarks, Dr. Marsh spoke of how seeing and experiencing the kennel operations, along with the socialization and general wellbeing of the dogs changed many of the students’ perceptions of commercial dog breeding, “We were able to change the perception of students for the better,” she said.

Local breeders who participated in the student tours spoke to encourage their industry counterparts to embrace their role in educating others on the thoughtful and humane processes being used among today’s commercial breeders. One breeder told his peers, “We have an opportunity to tell our story if we want to change the image (of what others think of breeding operations). When we have the opportunity to show our reality, we can change opinions.”

To learn more about Petland’s commitment to end inhumane breeding, visit petlandcares.com.