Little Puppies Online of Mount Vernon was named in a lawsuit filed by the Ohio Attorney General against an animal rescue nonprofit and its operators, which alleges charitable donations were diverted to bankroll the puppy breeder.
The lawsuit alleges that Dogs to the Rescue of Portsmouth, Ohio, operated as a sham charity in Knox and Scioto counties. The complaint claims the nonprofit deceived donors by falsely stating that all contributions would be used to find permanent homes for dogs, according to a press release from the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
Board members Nathan Bazler and Sara Bazler of Butler, Ohio, and Opal Mustain of Portsmouth, Ohio, along with Little Puppies Online, were named as defendants. The lawsuit accuses them of unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty, and other violations of charitable law. The press release also said that despite working as little as two hours per week on average, the board members paid themselves a combined $354,000 in 2022. By the end of 2022, only $42 remained in assets for the nonprofit. It lacked documentation to justify these payments. The lawsuit further alleges that Nathan and Sara Bazler used some funds to pay debts related to their for-profit business Maryland Puppies Online. In 2022, they agreed to shut down that business and pay civil penalties after being accused by Maryland authorities of violating laws against operating puppy mills.
"It doesn’t take a bloodhound to sniff out this scheme," Yost said. "When you exploit the generosity of animal lovers to fund a money-making business, you’ve strayed a long way from your charitable mission."
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties, restitution for donors, and injunctive relief prohibiting the defendants from soliciting donations or operating charitable organizations in Ohio. The case was brought forward by the Charitable Laws Section within the Attorney General’s Office which is responsible for enforcing state laws governing nonprofits and protecting charitable donations.
The Ohio Attorney General operates as a government agency overseeing legal matters and public advocacy. It serves as the state’s chief legal office with responsibilities including ensuring fairness and integrity in law enforcement for all residents while focusing on consumer protection and combating corruption, according to its official website.
