A new grant initiative from the ASPCA is shining a spotlight on an issue that animal welfare professionals have long recognized: increasing access to spay/neuter services is essential to reducing shelter overcrowding and improving outcomes for animals.

Ohio Animal Advocates is excited to introduce Erin Lawson, our Operations Director. After spending nearly a decade working directly with animals and the people who care for them, Erin has brought her experience to the policy side of animal welfare, where she's helping OAA expand its programs and advocacy efforts across Ohio.

Ohio Animal Advocates is excited to welcome Maria Petkovic as our new John Glenn College of Public Affairs intern! Before officially beginning her internship this fall through The Ohio State University's Ohio Government Internship Program. We sat down with Maria to learn more about her passion for animals, her interest in public policy, and what she's looking forward to during her time with OAA.

Animal shelters across the country are continually seeking effective, humane ways to help cats while making the best use of limited resources. A newly updated Return-to-Field Handbook from Humane World for Animals, Neighborhood Cats, and Alley Cat Advocates provides a comprehensive roadmap for shelters looking to improve outcomes for community cats through return-to-field programs.

Community cats are a part of many neighborhoods, and while some people enjoy seeing them stroll through the yard, others may be less enthusiastic. One of the most common complaints about free-roaming cats is their tendency to dig in gardens, lounge in flower beds, or use outdoor spaces as litter boxes.

From community cats to equines, wildlife protection to anti-cruelty advocacy, Ohio Animal Advocates works every day to create a more humane future for animals across our state. During OAA Giving Week, May 25th to May 29th, supporters have the opportunity to directly fuel that work and make an even bigger impact for Ohio’s animals.

That means every donation goes even further to support advocacy, education, collaboration, and lifesaving programs throughout Ohio.

An incident involving a community cat in Huber Heights, Ohio, is drawing national attention and raising serious concerns among animal advocates about humane response protocols, accountability, and the treatment of free-roaming cats.

According to reports, on April 23, a Huber Heights police officer shot an orange tabby cat after responding to a call about an animal allegedly suspected of having rabies. The officer’s report stated the cat appeared injured, was limping, and had white foam coming from its mouth. The officer then used his service weapon to shoot the cat twice.

What if your old clothes, vintage finds, or unused household items could directly support lifesaving work for cats? That’s exactly what’s happening in Canton, Ohio.

In a recent conversation with Ohio Animal Advocates, Chris Riggi of Riggi Rescue shared how their newly launched resale shop, CLAWS (Cats’ Lives Are Worth Saving), is doing more than just raising funds. It’s building community, creating sustainability, and fueling Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts on the ground.

At Ohio Animal Advocates, our board members bring a powerful mix of lived experience, professional expertise, and passion for animals. We sat down with Chris Riggi to talk about his journey, from grassroots rescue work to legislative advocacy, and how he’s working to create lasting change for animals across Ohio.

Across Ohio and the country, community cats are a visible, and often misunderstood, part of our neighborhoods. These cats didn’t appear overnight. They are the result of unsterilized populations, gaps in access to spay/neuter services, and a lack of coordinated community response.

When people step in to help by feeding outdoor cats, it can spark debate. But the truth is, feeding is only one piece of a much larger picture.

During a recent winter cold snap in Ohio, a man was cited for feeding stray cats. His intention was simple: keep them alive.

But the situation highlights a larger issue—one that communities across the country continue to grapple with: What happens when compassion collides with outdated or ineffective policies?

Each year, National Pet Vaccination Month serves as a reminder that one of the most powerful tools we have to protect animals is also one of the simplest: prevention.

Vaccines help protect pets from serious and often deadly diseases that still circulate in communities across the United States. By keeping pets up to date on their vaccinations, pet guardians can help safeguard not only their own animals, but also the broader pet population.