For years, Steffen Baldwin was seen as a hero in the animal rescue world—a self-proclaimed “dog whisperer” who claimed to rehabilitate the unadoptable, the aggressive, and the misunderstood. He built a public persona based on compassion, gaining the trust of shelters, rescue groups, and dog lovers across the country. But behind the carefully curated image was a deeply disturbing truth: Baldwin was not saving dogs. He was killing them.

The city of Campbell, Ohio, is making it clear: illegal and unethical animal breeding will no longer be tolerated. In a powerful move during Wednesday’s regular council meeting, Council President George Levendis delivered a message to those engaging in improper breeding practices: “It’s going to stop.”

In a heartwarming yet heartbreaking rescue mission, Operation Saves, a Toledo-based animal rescue, has taken in more than a dozen dogs saved from a puppy mill. The conditions these dogs endured were described as appalling, but thanks to the dedication and compassion of rescuers, they are now on their way to a better life.