Colder temperatures are around the corner, OAA knows how difficult it can be to see cats outdoors and wonder what you can do to help. That’s why we are highlighting a book that introduces young readers to community cats and how we can best support them through teamwork and education. Read about Nobody’s Cats: How One Little Black Kitty Came in From the Cold by Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff.

Community cats. Some people love them, while others may not understand them or why they’re here. As the seasons change and concerns about outdoor animals grow, OAA wanted to highlight a book for adult readers that takes a closer look at community cats through one person’s journey into TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return), backed by research and real-world experience.

Recent reports of rabies-positive skunks in Washington County, Maryland offer an important reminder for pet owners everywhere: keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations protects both animals and people. Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. It can affect wildlife as well as domestic animals, including cats and dogs.

A tiny kitten rescued from a piece of construction equipment in Northeast Ohio has found a home and a place on the crew. The kitten was discovered in July when Chase Guello, an operating supervisor with RiverReach Construction, heard cries coming from an excavator while checking the equipment. After removing the skid plates underneath the machine, the crew was able to safely free her.

As animal shelters face capacity challenges, rising intake, and preventing unplanned litters is an important part of reducing pressure on shelters and keeping pets with their families. In this webinar from United Spay Alliance and Community Cats Central, Pet Friendly Services of Indiana shared lessons from 50 years of experience building and managing a statewide spay/neuter assistance program.

Rabies is one of the oldest and deadliest diseases known to humanity. It is also one of the most preventable. In the US today, fewer than 10 human deaths occur each year from rabies. That progress did not happen by accident. It happened because of vaccination of pets, strong animal control programs, and public health tracking. And at the foundation is spay/neuter.

The Dog Days of Summer are the hottest of the year, and a time when it’s especially important to keep your dogs and other animals cool. As Ohio, and the United States, experience all-time high temperatures and extreme heat advisories, pet owners may struggle to ensure that their animals stay healthy and happy amidst the hot weather. 

Apply for funding through the Community Cats Grants program, brought to you by our partners at United Spay Alliance. The Fall/Winter application deadline is August 31st. These matching grants are designed to help grassroots trap-neuter-return (TNR) organizations, rescue groups, and low-cost spay/neuter providers strengthen their fundraising efforts.

Building a successful community cat program takes more than good intentions. It requires strategic planning, community partnerships, volunteer leadership, sustainable funding, and a strong understanding of humane population management. Community Cats Central is offering an eight-week online professional development course designed for anyone committed to improving outcomes for community cats.

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.