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Book of the Month Ohio Animal Advocates Book of the Month Ohio Animal Advocates

The Cat Man of Aleppo: A Story of Selflessness

The OAA recommended book of the month is The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham. This book tells the true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, who, amid the Syrian Civil War, courageously offered safe haven to Aleppo’s abandoned cats. The story follows Alaa through the war-torn streets as he uses the little money he earns from his job as an ambulance driver to buy food and supplies for the cats.

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Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Bald Eagles Soar in Ohio: 964 Nests and Counting

The bald eagle—America’s national bird and a symbol of strength and resilience—is thriving in the Buckeye State. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), there are now 964 confirmed active bald eagle nests across 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties, marking a 36% increase since the last statewide census in 2020.

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Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Announcing Our Newest Advocacy Page: Equines

We are excited to announce our new policy area on equines! Ohio Animal Advocates is dedicated to championing a higher standard of well-being for all equines. Our equine advocacy page aims to educate Ohioans on some of the most prevalent issues facing horses and other equines, including horse racing, soring and performance-enhancing drugs, horse slaughter, wild horse helicopter round-ups, and horse-drawn carriages. Read more about these topics here!

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Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

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.

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

Pet Planning in Your Will - Part 2

Your last will and testament, often referred to simply as a “will”, controls who will receive your property after your death and how it will be distributed.  The person you designate as the executor of your estate will be responsible for winding up your personal affairs and managing your property until it can be distributed.  Since animals are considered property, your will controls what happens to your pets when you pass away.  

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Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Creating an Impact: A Conversation with Jill Herbst of OAF

Jill Herbst, a founding board member of the Ohio Animal Foundation (OAF), has been deeply involved in advancing animal welfare in Ohio since the organization’s early beginnings in 2016. From shaping the foundation’s strategic vision to authoring educational content and coordinating outreach, Herbst has played a central role in OAF’s development.

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Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Spring Fling Spotlights: Sunrise Sanctuary Stories That Warm the Heart

This year’s Spring Fling was filled with sunshine, smiles, and stories that remind us why we do what we do. Ohio Animal Advocates was thrilled to visit Sunrise Sanctuary and meet some of their incredible residents — each with their own journey of resilience, love, and second chances.

Two animals who captured everyone’s hearts were Trevor the turkey and Daisy the blind mini horse.

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Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Welfare Ohio Animal Advocates

Silver Fox Lake and the Rising Need for Sanctuaries in Ohio

In the spring of 2025, a striking silver fox captured the attention of Medina County residents—and raised a red flag for wildlife advocates. The animal, later named Lake, was not just beautiful, he was out of place.

Unlike Ohio’s native red and gray foxes, Lake’s dark, shimmering coat marked him as a melanistic or “silver” fox—a trait rarely seen in the wild, but common in captive-bred foxes raised to be pets. His calm behavior around humans and lack of fear signaled something else: this was no wild animal. Lake had been bred and likely raised in captivity.

And, like many exotic pets, he had been abandoned.

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Animal Allies, Housing Ohio Animal Advocates Animal Allies, Housing Ohio Animal Advocates

“My Dog is My Home”: Keeping Families Together Through Housing Insecurity

In a powerful episode of The Animal Welfare Junction podcast, host Dr. Michelle Gonzalez takes listeners inside the 10th Anniversary celebration of My Dog is My Home and Found House Interfaith Housing Network—two organizations leading the way in supporting people experiencing homelessness with their beloved pets.

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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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“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.”

— Nelson Mandela