By Kendall Jang, Staff Writer
For Ohio Animal Advocates (OAA) Board Member Matthew Pryor, animal welfare is a mix of heart and law. A lifelong animal lover, Matthew is a civil litigation attorney who joined the Board to put his love of reading and understanding the law to work for animals, both by helping Ohioans understand the laws that affect them and by advocating for better ones.
From the summaries of new laws he has written for OAA to his passion for helping people who are struggling financially keep their pets, Matthew believes that informed communities are the key to lasting change.
We recently sat down with Matthew to learn more about what drew him to OAA, what he hopes to accomplish, and the two pets who share his home, Kitty and Pepper.
Question: What inspired you to join the Ohio Animal Advocates Board?
Pryor: Part of it is simple: I love animals. I've always had pets, and I have pets now. The other part was the opportunity to make an impact on the legislative side.
I have a background in law, and the law has always interested me. I liked the idea of being part of an organization that both informs the community about laws and actively works to make better ones. That's really how I got involved in the first place.
Question: What's one memorable experience that shaped your perspective on animal welfare?
Pryor: When I was in college, I wanted to get my own dog, so I started searching for adoptable dogs. That led me down a rabbit hole of puppy mills and how that whole industry operates. Most of the time, it's terrible.
It showed me how important it is to find reputable sources for pets. Before I went looking for a pet myself, I'd heard that puppy mills were bad, but I didn't realize the extent of the problem or how prevalent they really are.
Question: What was your first contribution to animal welfare?
Pryor: I have a stray cat. She was born under my back deck, and now she lives inside in a warm, comfy home. I think that's pretty animal-advocate of me!
Question: What excites you most about being part of OAA at this moment?
Pryor: I'm still fairly new, so I don't know the organization's whole history, but it feels like we're in a transformative period. We're adding new Board members, getting more people involved, and working to expand both our advocacy and our education.
It's a great time to be part of something, and the expansion the organization is going through is exciting to see.
Question: Are there particular advocacy areas within OAA's work that you feel most passionate about?
Pryor: OAA focuses on 12 advocacy areas, and the one that interests me most right now is homeless and low-income pets.
I think it ties into the link between animal and family violence, too. Often, people who are in a bad situation and can't afford to leave have pets, and caring for those pets can keep them tied to a situation they shouldn't be in. I think it's important to open avenues for people who are struggling financially and have pets. You see people on the street with their dogs all the time.
Question: How do you see yourself contributing to OAA as a Board member?
Pryor: Mostly on the legislative side. I enjoy reading the law, and I've written summaries of some new laws that OAA has shared so people can understand them.
I want to keep informing the general public about how laws affect them and animals, and hopefully advocate for changing those laws, too.
Question: How did you find out about OAA?
Pryor: LinkedIn. One of OAA's posts came across my feed, I liked a couple of them, and then I reached out to Vicki. The rest is history!
Question: Do you share your life with any animals at home? Tell us a little about them!
Pryor: I do! Kitty is the stray who was born under my deck. Her name wasn't supposed to be permanent. We weren't sure we were going to keep her at first, and when I took her to the vet they asked what name to put down. I said, "Just put Kitty for right now." It stuck.
My dog is Pepper, a goldendoodle.
Question: What are your hopes for OAA's future?
Pryor: My biggest hope is that we make meaningful change, which I know is broad. Specifically, I'd love to see legislation pass that OAA was heavily involved in, whether we helped draft it, helped shape it, or advocated for it.
If I had to pick one of OAA's legislative priorities to see move first, it would be increasing access to veterinary care. I think that's especially important.
Question: If you could inspire one action from Ohioans to make a difference for animals, what would it be?
Pryor: Donating is the easy one, so I'll go with that. And love your animals!
Question: What's an animal you feel especially connected to, and why?
Pryor: A butterfly. I like to float around the community and spread my wings. And, I'll admit, I also like being looked at, and I'm pretty.
Follow in Matthew's Footsteps
Matthew's story is a reminder that you can make a difference for animals with the skills and interests you already have. Whether you're using your professional expertise to help people understand the law, opening your home to an animal in need, or simply showing love to the pets in your life, every action matters.
You can make a difference, too.
1. Visit our Action Alerts page and easily send a letter to your legislator on the issue(s) most important to you! Such as:
Increase Access to Veterinary Care with House Bill 664. This would allow registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) to provide vaccinations and preventative care to dogs and cats in Ohio under the direction and without direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
2. Support OAA's work for animals and the people who love them with a donation.
3. Share this update and action alerts with friends and family!
4. Subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive animal welfare related news and resources in Ohio straight to your inbox.
