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Stop the Irreversible and Painful Practice of Declawing
Ohio has the chance to join a growing movement to protect cats from one of the most painful and unnecessary surgeries still being performed: declawing. Senate Bill 252 (S.B. 252) would make it illegal to declaw cats in Ohio, except in rare cases where it is medically necessary for the animalβs health.
Human Bones and Hundreds of Animals Found in Stark County Home
The community of Canton, Ohio, is reeling after investigators uncovered a disturbing scene inside a home on Wertz Avenue. Following a tip from an animal rescue group, authorities executed a search warrant and discovered over 250 living rats, 100 deceased rats, dogs, turtles, and birdsβall living among piles of filth, feces, and urine. Even more shocking, a box containing human bones was found inside.
75 Animals Rescued from Ashtabula Hoarding Case
The Ashtabula County Animal Protective League (ACAPL) is facing one of its most heartbreaking and overwhelming rescues to date. Earlier this month, a tip about inhumane conditions led to the removal of 72 cats and three dogs from two homes deemed βbiohazardsβ by authorities.
NIH to Phase Out Funding for Dog and Cat Testing
In a groundbreaking shift, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced plans to phase out extramural grant funding for experiments involving dogs and cats. This decision comes after years of advocacy from animal welfare groups, including the White Coat Waste Project, and marks a major step toward more humane science.
Justice for Leonidas: Strengthening Ohioβs Animal Cruelty Laws
The tragic death of Leonidas, a dog from Warren, Ohio, is another painful reminder of why stronger protections for animals are urgently needed.
Stop Cruel Cockfighting in Ohio
Earlier this summer, the Friendship Animal Protective League (FAPL), with support from the Lorain County Sheriffβs Department, seized 239 birds connected to an illegal cockfighting operation in Sheffield Township, Ohio. This marks the fourth cockfighting-related seizure in Lorain County this year alone.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Dogfighting
On August 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Joel Brown, 38, of Franklin County, Ohio, pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting and drug crimes.
False Report Leads to Tragic Dog Shooting in Madison Township
On the morning of July 21, law enforcement officers responded to a false emergency call in Madison Township. The caller falsely claimed that a βgrandmaβ had been shot in the kitchen of a home on the 3300 block of South Hamilton Road, near Hott Road.
Wooster Man Sentenced to Probation After Killing 17 Cats
A Wooster man who admitted to killing 17 cats using a makeshift gas chamber has been sentenced to just six months of probation. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to five counts of cruelty to companion animals and one count of petty theft.
Ohio Man Guilty in Dogfighting Case
An Ohio man has admitted to running a dogfighting operation while also engaging in drug trafficking β a disturbing reminder of the cruelty and crime tied to animal fighting ventures.
Animal Cruelty on the Rise: Help Us Help Them
It seems every month we hear about horrific cruelty to animals in the media in Ohio this year. From an ESA cat freezing to death on Summit Lake to more than a hundred farm animals being hoarded by a veterinarian in Sandusky, animal cruelty must be stopped.
FDA Declares Historic Shift Away from Animal Testing
On April 11, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a groundbreaking plan that could reshape the future of drug developmentβand 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.
βWe can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.β
β Nelson Mandela