On the heels of a very busy election season, there’s one more important vote coming up soon in the Ohio State Legislature.

When the Ohio House of Representatives reconvenes in Columbus on November 15, lawmakers in the Buckeye State will be deciding the fate of a controversial pro-puppy-mill bill that threatens to roll back protections for the state’s most vulnerable dogs.

The bill—known as the “Petland bill,” after the pet store chain that is its primary backer—would undo local laws in the Ohio cities of Toledo and Grove City that prohibit pet stores from selling dogs sourced from puppy mills. It would also permanently block other cities from enacting similar legislation, opening the door for an influx of puppy mill dogs into the state. These puppy mill/pet store sales bans strike a severe blow to the puppy mill industry and help reduce the demand for commercially bred dogs.

The ASPCA is standing united with The Humane Society of the United States, Best Friends Animal Society and Ohio’s local and statewide animal-protection groups in an open letter to the Ohio House of Representatives urging legislators to oppose the bad bill when it appears before them for a vote this month. You can read the full letter here.

The bill has already passed in the Ohio State Senate and could be voted on in the House as soon as next week. If it passes in the House, years of progress made toward reducing puppy mill cruelty in the state will be reversed.

This is an uphill battle and we need your help to ensure this bill is defeated. If you live in Ohio, please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to ask your representative to oppose this dangerous legislation, or email [email protected] for ways you can get involved right in your own community to make a difference for Ohio’s puppy mill dogs.

Don’t live in Ohio? Sign up for the ASPCA’s Advocacy Brigade to be alerted when we need your help to fight for puppy mill dogs in your state.