In a powerful new episode of The Animal Welfare Junction podcast, our very own Dr. G—Ohio Animal Advocates Board Member—dives deep into the chilling world of exotic animal ownership and the hard-fought efforts to protect captive primates.

In May, we considered how to use powers of attorney to plan and provide for your pets during your lifetime.  Powers of attorney authorize someone else to make decisions for your pets if you become unable to care for them or need assistance.  This month we will turn our attention to providing for and protecting your pets after your death.  Far too many pets are forgotten, abandoned, neglected, or vulnerable to abuse when their owner passes away.  

The clock is ticking—and Ohio families, pets, and communities are depending on us to act.

Right now, Ohio Senate leaders are making critical decisions about what to include in the state budget. One dangerous amendment added by the House to HB 96, the biennial state budget bill, would gut the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF)—a vital source of state funding for affordable housing, emergency home repair, and homelessness prevention across all 88 counties.

Justice is expected to be served for dozens of individuals—both human and canine—caught in a devastating puppy scam that spanned across Ohio and beyond.

On Thursday, April 24, April Waidman of Goshen Township will be sentenced in Mahoning County Court after pleading guilty to over 80 charges, including 45 felony theft counts. Waidman admitted to taking payments for puppies that customers never received, defrauding families across the country of more than $106,000.

For the past several years, Ohio Animal Advocates has been honored to partner with Walking Wild Rescue, a unique and deeply committed sanctuary that provides a second chance to foxes and other animals in need. Many of you have joined us on our Real Ohio Tours to their facility—where compassion, dedication, and heart are felt in every enclosure built and every life saved.

Today, we are reaching out to ask for your help during one of the most heartbreaking moments in the lives of Walking Wild’s founders.

On April 11, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a groundbreaking plan that could reshape the future of drug development—and save countless animal lives in the process.

In a bold move, FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary unveiled a roadmap to phase out animal testing, starting with monoclonal antibody therapies. Backed by bipartisan legislation and cutting-edge technology, this shift marks the beginning of a more ethical, efficient, and human-relevant approach to drug safety.

In a landmark decision, the Ohio Supreme Court has clarified that all cats and dogs—whether they live indoors, outdoors, are owned, stray, or community animals—are protected under Ohio’s felony cruelty laws.

The case arose after a man was convicted of felony animal cruelty against a cat. His defense argued that because the animal was not “kept” by a person, it did not qualify for protection under the law. The Court rejected that argument—setting a powerful precedent for animal protection across Ohio.

We are thrilled to share that Dr. Alba Michelle Gonzalez-Monska — known to many as Dr. G — was honored with the Humane World for Animals Access to Care Visionary Award at this year's Animal Care EXPO!

Stray cats. Community cats. Problem cats. Neighborhood nuisances. However you refer to them, they exist almost everywhere. In some places they are more prevalent than others: one such place Sabina, Ohio.

Earlier this spring, more than 200 animals were rescued from a farm in Wellington, Ohio, after investigators uncovered what one shelter called “deplorable and inhumane” conditions. The rescue, led by the Friendship Animal Protective League (FAPL), marks the third large-scale animal seizure in less than 30 days for the organization.

On October 24, 2024, Sophia Kartsonis, the former director of Our Farm Sanctuary in Tipp City, Ohio, was sentenced in Miami County Municipal Court on six counts of cruelty to companion animals.

We are thrilled to share that our Board President, Megan Moon, has been honored as the April 2025 recipient of the ‘Do Good for Dayton’ Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates individuals who make significant positive impacts in the Miami Valley, inspiring others to contribute to the betterment of their communities.