PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — A nonprofit that claimed to rescue dogs in Scioto County was actually a front to funnel charitable donations into a for-profit puppy business, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost alleged in a lawsuit filed today.
The suit accuses Dogs to the Rescue — which operated in both Knox and Scioto counties — of deceiving donors by falsely claiming that 100% of contributions went toward finding permanent homes for dogs. Instead, state investigators say, the money lined the pockets of board members and helped prop up a separate puppy-selling operation.
“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.”
Named as defendants alongside the nonprofit are board members Nathan Bazler, Sara Bazler and Opal Mustain, as well as Little Puppies Online. The filing accuses them of unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty and other violations of Ohio charitable law.
Records show the board members paid themselves a combined $354,000 in 2022 — despite working an average of just two hours per week. By the end of that year, the nonprofit reported only $42 in remaining assets and had no documentation to justify the payments.
Investigators say Nathan and Sara Bazler, a couple from Richland County, used some of the donated funds to pay debts tied to a separate for-profit venture, Maryland Puppies Online. In 2022, the Bazlers shut that business down and paid civil penalties after Maryland accused them of violating puppy mill laws. The couple also operates Little Puppies Online out of Mount Vernon.
Yost’s office is seeking civil penalties, restitution, and a permanent ban on the defendants’ soliciting donations or running charitable organizations in Ohio.
Scioto County residents who believe they donated to Dogs to the Rescue or suspect any charitable organization of fraud are encouraged to file a complaint at charitable.ohioago.gov or by calling 800-282-0515.
The case was brought by the Charitable Law Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.