Hazy future for OH puppy mills - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

An Ohio legislative committee has recessed without voting on a bill that would crack down on high-volume dog breeding operations, otherwise known as puppy mills.

An aide to the bill's sponsor said it was unclear whether further action would come Tuesday night.

The bill would beef up regulations on the care and treatment of animals housed in large-scale establishments and distinguish the facilities from traditional dog kennels. It also requires those considered "dog retailers" to be licensed.

The Humane Society of the United States is among groups supporting puppy mill limits. The organization included restrictions on the facilities among policy priorities it wanted in exchange for keeping an anti-animal cruelty measure off the 2010 statewide ballot.

That measure would have affected care standards for Ohio livestock.