The growing number of animals waiting at shelters for homes is often attributed to the hidden world of puppy mill dog breeding and dog auctions, according to local animal care agencies.

Mari Lee Schwarzwalder, executive director of the Humane Association of Warren County, said a contributing factor to overcrowding at animal shelters is dog auctions.

“Overproduction by people not responsible, that’s why we’ve got a greater influx of animals to shelters,” Schwarzwalder said. “Six years ago we never had puppies.

“If you have these dog auctions, backyard breeders and irresponsible breeders go and are making money from them,” Schwarzwalder said.

Animals Friends Humane Society in Hamilton is also passionate about supporting more regulation of dog auctions, said Meg Stephenson, executive director.

Stephenson sees about 20 animals come into the shelter daily.

“It’s a money-hungry industry, and there’s no care,” Stephenson said. “The animals are kept in bad conditions; it’s deplorable and disturbing.”

In Ohio, six dog auctions are held each year, such as the Farmerstown Dog Auction in Holmes County, with about 350 animals sold at each one, according to Schwarzwalder.

Humane societies in Butler and Warren counties have joined the efforts to support the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions. The coalition has a goal of submitting a proposal to the Ohio General Assembly to ban dog auctions in Ohio this year, according to the coalition website. If the assembly fails to pass the bill, the coalition will work to place the initiative on the November ballot.

Schwarzwalder said the agency helped collect signatures for the coalition at its October Stroll for Strays event.

In Butler and Warren counties, more than 66,800 dog and kennel licenses were granted in 2011 — an 18 percent increase alone in Butler County since the mid-2000s.

Butler County Chief Dog Warden Julie Holmes said the spike in dog licensing, which is required by the state, came after initiatives began in 2007 to educate the public on responsible pet ownership.

Holmes said, despite the education efforts, more than 1,000 tickets are issued annually for violations such as no license or insurance, dog at large, or vicious dog.

“People just aren’t as responsible as they should be with animals both in licensing and care,” Holmes said.

Kathleen Summers, manager of the puppy mill campaign for Humane Society of the U.S., said typically responsible breeders are not the ones selling to stores because they want to know where the animal is going and be able to offer advice or take the puppy back if it doesn’t work.

“With pet stores, there’s not that kind of accountability,” Summers said.

Puppy mills are commercial dog breeding facilities, which often keep the animals in poor conditions, according to HSUS.

Longtime breeder Angela Murphy of Fayetteville in Brown County shares similar sentiments as the humane societies.

Murphy sells Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies by word of mouth and through classified ads.

Murphy said it’s important for responsible breeders to have puppies checked by a veterinarian to ensure good health.

“Our kids play with them from the time they are born to when they leave,” Murphy said. “It makes you feel better when you know it (puppy) is going to a good home. That as a breeder is pretty special.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or Hannah.Poturalski@coxinc.com.