ASHLAND — Tammy Kindle has been an animal activist and puppy-mill rescuer for about a decade.
She recently launched B.A.R.K. for ALL, an Ohio grassroots movement, on Aug. 21, advocating for a fundamental change in the way the state regulates dog breeding.
The acronym stands for Breeder Accountability, Registration and Kennel Inspections for all breeders.
“What we’re looking to do is rather than to continue to expand rescue and expand current laws, we’re looking to work upstream and tackle the problem from the beginning,” Kindle said Tuesday.
She was in attendance Tuesday for Ross Rutschilling’s appearance in Ashland Municipal Court.
Rutschilling, 24, of St. Henry, is facing six charges related to the ongoing investigation of 64-year-old Loudonville dog breeder Daniel Miller — who currently faces 12 charges himself.
Rutschilling ischarged with five counts of aiding or abetting an act involving sexual conduct with an animal and one count of attempted cruelty to companion animals.
Miller’s 12 charges include falsification, obstructing official business, six counts of cruelty to a companion animal, engage in sexual conduct with an animal, possessing criminal tools, depriving a companion animal of sustenance and torture and torment or commit act of cruelty.
All charges against Rutschilling and Miller are first- and second-degree misdemeanors under Ohio Revised Code, which Kindle described as “heartbreaking.”
“The fact remains that currently, these people, if found guilty, will be sentenced under the current law which is a misdemeanor of the second degree and the other charges being misdemeanors,” she said. “I would like to see that changed.”
Kindle said anyone who wants to breed a dog and intends on selling those puppies to the public needs to be licensed and registered.
“Every dog matters,” she said. “That being said, we need the people in charge to enforce that meaningful oversight.”
Details for Oct. 13 protest
Pretrials have been scheduled for both Miller and Rutschilling on Oct. 13. The pretrials will take place 30 minutes apart — Rutschilling at 1:30 p.m. and Miller at 2 p.m.
Passion & Purpose for Ohio’s Voiceless — a grassroots animal advocacy organization — has planned an organized protest outside the municipal court, 1209 E. Main St., at 12:30 p.m. on the same date.
“The ODA failed to protect the 85 dogs seized from Miller’s kennel when it renewed the operation’s license despite documented concerns dating to 2018,” PPOV said in its release.
“We call for stronger protections and the establishment of a dedicated Ohio Department of Companion Animals (ODCA) to provide effective oversight of breeding operations.”
Kindle said B.A.R.K. for ALL will be in attendance Oct. 13.
“I’m hoping that we can have a powerful presence of animal rights activists here on that day,” she said.
PPOV is asking that all signs address ODA accountability and puppy-mill reform rather than identifying Miller or Rutschilling by name, due to the fact their criminal matters remain pending and they’re presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“There’s a lot of support for animal rights here in Ohio and I think that we can look forward to seeing a lot of those people take time in their day to come and show support,” Kindle said.
Kindle shares best practices for buying a puppy
The animal activist also shared advice for people when they buy a puppy.
She said to avoid buying a puppy online.
“You need to be able to visit the premises on which the dogs are being bred and sold,” Kindle said. “You need to be able to see the nursing mother or the mother of the puppies that you are interested in buying.”
She said it’s also important to see the actual living conditions where the puppies are housed.
“Not just the pretty building that might be out front where you get to visit the animals,” Kindle said. “Ask to see where they’re being housed and kept.
“At this point in time, I think the only thing that one can do to try to ensure that they are working with a reputable breeder is to show up yourself, boots on the ground, to the actual facility.
“Reputable breeders, in my experience, want to be careful about who they adopt their pets out to and are happy to show the area in which the pets are housed and cared for,” she said.
