Eight Ohio facilities appeared on Humane World for Animals’ 2026 Horrible Hundred report, which highlights puppy mills and sellers that the organization says pose animal welfare concerns.
Each year, Humane World for Animals releases a list of puppy mills, which the organization defines as “inhumane high‑volume dog breeding facilities that churn out puppies for profit” while ignoring the needs of puppies and their mothers.
In the 2025 report, Ohio had the second‑highest number of listed dealers, with 16 facilities named. Since that report, at least one Ohio breeder previously listed, Norman E. Yoder of Green Meadow Farm, had his USDA license revoked in February 2026 after appearing in two earlier lists. In a separate January incident, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton rescued more than 30 animals found in cramped cages amid feces, trash and the remains of dead animals.
Here are the Ohio dealers named in the 2026 report.
8 Ohio puppy mill dealers appear on 2026 ‘Horrible Hundred’ list
A total of eight sellers were included in the report this year, half the number from 2025. Here are the breeders that made the list and what Humane World for Animals said about each:
Documents with further details, including inspection reports and license numbers for each dealer are available on Humane World for Animals’ website.
How the ‘Horrible Hundred’ list was determined
Humane World for Animals says it compiled the Horrible Hundred by reviewing government inspection reports, enforcement actions and other public records involving dog breeders, brokers and transporters.
Facilities were selected to show common, ongoing animal welfare concerns, based largely on documented violations in state or USDA inspection reports obtained through public records and Freedom of Information Act requests, Humane World for Animals states. The organization notes it does not have access to all inspection records and that the listings are influenced by record availability, which varies widely by state.
The organization added that facilities not included in the report may still have problems, and inclusion does not necessarily mean a breeder broke the law. Humane World for Animals adds that roughly half of the breeders named nationwide are repeat offenders but emphasizes the list is not a ranking of the nation’s worst dog breeders, noting many puppy mills are never inspected.
The organization urges prospective pet owners to avoid buying puppies sight unseen or from pet stores and to visit breeders in person to see where dogs are born and raised.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 8 Ohio breeders on 2026 ‘Horrible Hundred’ list of puppy mills
Reporting by Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
