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Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Tell Governor Dewine to Hold ODA Accountable for Abuse of Dogs in Ohio's Puppy Mills

OAA strives to make Ohio a place where all animals are protected from cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Currently, thousands of innocent puppies and breeding dogs are vulnerable to the inhumanities of puppy mills, and we need your help to change this.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has continuously failed to control the abusive puppy mill industry in Ohio and to hold the abusers accountable. Breeders disregard the health of their dogs to keep costs low and maximize their profits. According to Humane World research, most puppies sold in pet stores and through online retailers are born in puppy mills.

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Domestic Violence, Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Domestic Violence, Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Survivors Deserve Stability: Protecting the Ohio Housing Trust Fund

In April 2025, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) launched its inaugural Survivor Voices Council, a transformative initiative supported by a $200,000 grant from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF). This funding underscores the critical role OHTF plays in supporting life-saving programs for Ohioans facing domestic violence and housing insecurity.

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Species Spotlight Ohio Animal Advocates Species Spotlight Ohio Animal Advocates

Ohio Species Spotlight: Sandhill Crane

The Sandhill Crane is a striking, tall bird standing 3 to 4 feet high with a wingspan of up to 6.5 feet. It’s recognized by its long legs, long neck, grayish-brown feathers, and distinctive red crown on its head. These cranes are known for their trumpeting calls that echo across wetlands and open fields, especially when traveling in large migratory flocks.

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Domestic Violence, Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Domestic Violence, Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Support the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act

At Ohio Animal Advocates, we believe that protecting animals and protecting children go hand in hand. That’s why we are urging support for H.R. 712 – the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act—a bipartisan bill that seeks to improve how we track and respond to child abuse cases by including animal abuse as a critical data point.

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Animal Welfare, Community Cats Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare, Community Cats Ohio Animal Advocates

Student-Led Club Makes Big Impact on Campus Cats at University of Dayton

At the University of Dayton (UD), a group of passionate students is proving that compassion and community can make a real difference for animals in need. Paws with Claws, UD’s first student organization dedicated to cat advocacy, has already helped nine community cats find safety, medical care, and loving homes since launching in 2024.

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Pet Planning, Resources Ohio Animal Advocates Pet Planning, Resources Ohio Animal Advocates

Pet Planning in Your Will - Part 1

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.  

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Animal Welfare, Housing Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare, Housing Ohio Animal Advocates

Don’t Bust the Trust: Call Now to Save the Ohio Housing Trust Fund

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.

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Backyard Breeding Ohio Animal Advocates Backyard Breeding Ohio Animal Advocates

Goshen Township Breeder Sentenced After Scamming Puppy Buyers

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.

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Community Ohio Animal Advocates Community Ohio Animal Advocates

Standing with Walking Wild: A Call for Compassion and Support

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.

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— Nelson Mandela