Shelley Lieberman: Turning Compassion into Action for Animals and People
Shelley Lieberman has built a life around a simple but powerful idea: when you care deeply about something, that’s where your work should begin. That mindset has guided her journey as a passionate advocate for both animals and the people who love them. As a longtime board member of Ohio Animal Advocates (OAA), Shelley has helped lead efforts that connect the dots between animal welfare, domestic violence, and homelessness.
Shelley was a vital part of OAA’s work to pass Ohio’s pet protective order legislation, which allows survivors of domestic violence to include their pets in civil protection orders. She saw and heard how abusers often use pets as leverage, and how survivors felt trapped when they had no safe place for their animals. But Shelley didn’t stop with policy, she saw a deeper need at the community level.
Wanting to create real-world support for survivors and their pets, she partnered with My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter in Athens County. Through her vision and fundraising leadership, the shelter launched a dedicated pet safe haven called My Sister’s Paw, giving survivors the security of knowing they wouldn’t have to leave their animals behind to find safety. It was a major milestone in Ohio’s efforts to protect the human-animal bond in crisis situations.
Today, Shelley continues to meet emerging needs with compassion and determination. Her latest focus? Supporting unhoused individuals who have pets. She’s currently working with shelters in Athens to explore pet-friendly options, helping them consider what it takes. From funding to facilities—to welcoming animals alongside their owners. “You can’t ignore the role pets play in people’s lives, especially when they’re facing hardship,” she says. “They’re family.”
Through every step of her advocacy, Shelley has embraced the idea that anyone can make a difference if they start with what they’re passionate about. “You don’t have to have all the answers,” she says. “Just start with what moves you. That’s where your impact begins.” It’s a message she shares often, especially with younger advocates or those just discovering their voice in the animal welfare space.
Her story reflects the very heart of OAA’s mission, creating practical, compassionate solutions that uplift both animals and people. Whether it’s advancing legislation, building shelter partnerships, or diving into new areas like homelessness, Shelley brings consistency, empathy, and purpose to everything she does.
We’re proud to celebrate Shelley Lieberman’s leadership, not just as a board member but as a changemaker who reminds us all that advocacy starts with caring, and grows through action. Her journey is a testament to the power of following your passion and using it to build a more humane world.
Shelley is thankful to have served on the OAA Board for several years, and looks forward to returning in the future. She worked with our Executive Director Vicki Deisner on the passage of Ohio's Pet Protective Order and Cross-reporting bill - laws that help families protect their pets when family violence escalates. Shelley believes the education OAA provides to Ohioans, in the form of statewide resources and trainings, is critically important and unique to OAA. The legislative measures that OAA works on are invaluable, and make a difference for animals in Ohio. As Shelley steps down from the OAA Board to help Athens homeless and housing-challenged, she is thankful for the resources and national networks OAA is involved in to help her develop safe havens for pets of the homeless and housing-challenged.
