But they're not in the local dog pound or animal shelter. And instead of being adopted out to homes, the animals are auctioned off and purchased by the highest bidder.

The controversial practice has some dog breeders, farmers and others calling for some auctions to be shut down for good, arguing that the animals are being treated inhumanely.

"We feel that dog auctions serve as a major distribution channel for puppy mill breeding. Reputable breeders will not buy and sell their dogs at dog auctions," said Mary O'Connor-Shaver, who started the Coalition to Ban Dog Auctions, a nonprofit political action committee. "It's equivalent to solitary confinement in prison, and these dogs are strictly valued for their ability to breed -- that's it."

In particular, several times a year, a group of breeders from across the county go to Farmerstown, in Ohio, to participate in a dog auction. But Harold Neuhart, who runs the auction, said opponents have no solid argument because the breeders are USDA regulated and the auction is legal.

In a video from Animals' Angels USA, which was obtained by an anonymous source, dogs are shown locked up in cages in January at the Ohio Dog Auction in Holmes County. Neuhart acknowledged his site on the video and said, "That's my kennel," but he said what he does is approved by the USDA.

He said that's the way the dogs live most of their lives, with no interaction.

"They're not confined in a little cage, 24-7, 365, but to say they're out free running, no," Neuhart said. "It's a mess when you have to deal with the animal rights people. They have no understanding whatsoever of an animal."

Ohio is the only state east of the Mississippi where breeders from several states can buy and sell. But the coalition said the breeders coming here have a shady past.

"The majority have long-standing violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Some have been convicted of animal cruelty in their own states," O'Connor-Shaver said, including a location in Minnesota that has a list of previous USDA violations.

O'Connor-Shaver's group funded the purchase of several dogs from the January auction in Farmerstown, and she said many of the dogs suffered physical ailments.

Some of their toes are permanently twisted from standing on wire cages. One was de-barked, and she said it appears it was done without anesthesia. Some have burns to their skin from urine falling on them from above, and others teeth were so rotted they had to be pulled. They were skittish and cage crazy, she said.

O'Connor-Shaver said they all passed through the USDA inspector and veterinarian on site. Yet, Neuhart said he would never let dogs in that condition go out to bidders -- he would give them back to the breeders. But O'Connor-Shaver said she fears that would happen after that.

"There's a good chance that they may be taken back to the kennel and disposed of," she said.

The coalition is seeking 121,000 signatures by the end of the year to hand the issue off to state lawmakers. If that happens, Ohio voters may have the final say as to whether Ohio dog auctions continue.