Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit that paints a supposed animal-welfare nonprofit as a fundraising funnel for a for-profit puppy outfit in Mount Vernon. According to the complaint, the organization steered charitable donations into Little Puppies Online, run by Nathan and Sara Bazler, while its board members collected hefty payments even as the nonprofit reported virtually no assets.
What the attorney general alleges
In a press release from the Ohio Attorney General, Yost’s office says the lawsuit targets Dogs to the Rescue, board members Nathan and Sara Bazler and Opal Mustain, and Little Puppies Online. The filing accuses them of unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty and other violations of Ohio charitable law. According to the complaint, the board members together paid themselves $354,000 in 2022, while the nonprofit reported just $42 in remaining assets. “It doesn’t take a bloodhound to sniff out this scheme,” Yost said in the release.
Ties to a prior Maryland settlement
The complaint also highlights earlier enforcement activity in Maryland. The Bazlers previously agreed to shut down Maryland Puppies Online and pay civil penalties after that state accused the company of violating its puppy-mill law. As WTOP reported, Maryland barred the business from selling or transferring dogs in the state and imposed a penalty that can climb to $250,000 if the settlement terms are broken.
A history flagged by animal advocates
Animal-welfare advocates and watchdog reports have previously called out Little Puppies Online and related operations for inspection violations and crowded conditions. Those issues show up in national rundowns of problematic sellers, including a listing and inspection details compiled by The Humane Society, which documents state and USDA actions connected to the Bazlers’ multi-state businesses.
How the seller presents itself
On its website, Little Puppies Online describes itself as a family-run business that offers veterinary checks and places animals through a partner rescue called Dogs to the Rescue. The lawsuit contends that the money donors believed was supporting rescue work instead helped cover debts and payroll for the for-profit side of the operation.
What the lawsuit seeks and what comes next
The case, brought by the Charitable Law Section of the Attorney General’s Office, seeks civil penalties, restitution and a court order preventing the defendants from soliciting donations or running charitable organizations in Ohio. The attorney general’s release also outlines how Ohioans who suspect charity fraud can file a complaint with the office.
