A second person has now been charged in connection with the investigation into the Loudonville commercial dog breeding operation previously covered by Ohio Animal Advocates. According to Richland Source, Ross C. Rutschilling, 24, faces six charges in Ohio, including five counts of aiding or abetting sexual conduct with an animal and one count of attempted cruelty to companion animals.

Colder temperatures are around the corner, OAA knows how difficult it can be to see cats outdoors and wonder what you can do to help. That’s why we are highlighting a book that introduces young readers to community cats and how we can best support them through teamwork and education. Read about Nobody’s Cats: How One Little Black Kitty Came in From the Cold by Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff.

Community cats. Some people love them, while others may not understand them or why they’re here. As the seasons change and concerns about outdoor animals grow, OAA wanted to highlight a book for adult readers that takes a closer look at community cats through one person’s journey into TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return), backed by research and real-world experience.

For millions of people, pets are more than companions. They are family, providing comfort, security and a sense of connection, especially during difficult times. That bond can become particularly important when someone is facing a crisis. People experiencing domestic violence or homelessness often delay seeking or don't seek services that can help them because they're not able to bring their pets.

A recent criminal case in neighboring Indiana shows how serious cases involving the sexual abuse of animals can be. According to court documents reported by FOX59, an Indiana man is facing multiple charges after investigators allegedly found videos showing the sexual abuse of animals. Investigators said one video allegedly showed the man torturing and sexually abusing a dog.

The Animal Health Organization (TAHO) is facing a critical staffing and financial challenge that could impact access to veterinary care in its community. According to TAHO, the ongoing shortage of veterinarians has significantly affected both its staffing capacity and revenue, putting the organization in a precarious financial position.

Recent reports of rabies-positive skunks in Washington County, Maryland offer an important reminder for pet owners everywhere: keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations protects both animals and people. Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. It can affect wildlife as well as domestic animals, including cats and dogs.

A Dayton-area cat recently returned home after an extraordinary six years apart from his family, offering an important reminder about the value of microchipping pets. Fourteen-year-old Booger disappeared in 2020. Six years later, he arrived at the Humane Society of Greater Dayton as a severely ill stray. After months of recovery and a microchip, he finally made it home.

A tiny kitten rescued from a piece of construction equipment in Northeast Ohio has found a home and a place on the crew. The kitten was discovered in July when Chase Guello, an operating supervisor with RiverReach Construction, heard cries coming from an excavator while checking the equipment. After removing the skid plates underneath the machine, the crew was able to safely free her.

For many people, pets are family and their needs can influence decisions about housing, finances and even health care. A recent Perspective published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “Human–Animal Bonds as Social Determinants of Health Care Access,” explores how responsibilities to pets can affect whether and how people seek medical care.

A proposal to add a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife to the Ohio Constitution has stalled in the Ohio General Assembly. For advocates, this is an important win for Ohio’s wildlife and science-based wildlife management.

The monarch butterfly’s remarkable migration depends on something surprisingly simple: milkweed. In a recent Animal Politics article, The Milkweed Principle, Ed Boks explores the relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed as a larger lesson for animal welfare and conservation. Monarchs rely on milkweed to reproduce and survive. When that essential habitat disappears, populations suffer.