In a historic step for animal and environmental protection, municipalities in Peru have officially recognized native stingless bees as legal subjects with rights, marking the first known time in global legal history that insects have been granted this kind of legal recognition.

The new ordinances, passed in the Peruvian regions of Satipo and Nauta, recognize stingless bees and their habitats as having the right to exist, thrive, regenerate natural cycles, and receive legal protection from environmental harm.

For years, a diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) felt like a death sentence for cat caregivers and veterinarians alike. Shelters, rescues, foster homes, and cat owners across the country experienced the heartbreak of losing kittens and cats to a disease that once had no effective treatment. Today, that reality is changing.

In a recent episode of the Community Cats Central, renowned pet journalist and feline advocate Steve Dale shared a message that brought veterinarians around the world to tears:

“I’m announcing that FIP is no longer considered fatal.”

On April 22, 2026, My Dog Is My Home (MDIMH) hosted an Open House at Found House Interfaith Housing Network in Cincinnati, bringing together advocates and professionals from across the tri-state area and beyond.

Ohio Animal Advocates (OAA) was proud to attend and witness firsthand the incredible work Found House is doing to support individuals experiencing housing instability without separating them from their pets.

For decades, the legal system has treated pets as property, no different than a couch or a car. But anyone who has loved an animal knows that couldn’t be further from the truth. Now, a new bill in Colorado is challenging that outdated framework, and it could signal a major shift in how the law views animals, families, and safety.

For survivors of domestic violence, leaving an unsafe situation is never simple. It’s not just about packing a bag and finding shelter. It’s about making impossible decisions. For some, that decision includes leaving behind a beloved animal.

We often talk about the bond between people and their pets—dogs, cats, and small companions—but what about those whose companions weigh over 1,000 pounds?

What happens when safety means figuring out how to protect a horse?

Advocates, animal lovers, and community members gathered in protest following the tragic death of Orelha, a beloved community dog from Brazil whose story has sparked outrage around the world. What happened in New York wasn’t just a demonstration. It was part of a growing, global demand for accountability in cases of animal cruelty.

This month, we’re highlighting Evie is a Dog, NOT a Robot: Understanding Assistance Dogs by Jennifer Gravrok, a heartfelt and accessible story that gently reshapes how we think about assistance animals.

A recent case in North Royalton is a stark reminder that animal cruelty doesn’t always happen out in the open and when it does surface, it often reveals a much deeper issue. A video circulating on social media shows a dog walker striking a dog named Smokey with a leash and aggressively pulling her during a walk. The footage is difficult to watch. Smokey appears visibly terrified, and for her guardian, the experience was both shocking and heartbreaking.

Ohio Animal Advocates joins the Johnstown community and the broader animal welfare network in mourning the loss ofRick Armstrong, longtime caretaker of Butternut Farm Wildcat Sanctuary. Rick passed away on March 4th, just two days before his 83rd birthday.

For more than two decades, Rick served as the primary caretaker of the sanctuary—devoting his life to providing a safe, loving home for wildlife and domestic cats in need.

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?

Earlier this month, Ohio Animal Advocates published an article exploring why low-cost spay and neuter appointments are so difficult to find. As Dr. Michelle “Dr. G” Gonzalez of the Rascal Unit explained, the problem isn’t a lack of effort by clinics. It’s that demand far exceeds the number of clinics, veterinarians, and technicians available to perform these surgeries safely.

The scale of the challenge means no single solution will fix it.

But organizations across Ohio are working on pieces of the puzzle.

To continue the conversation, we spoke with representatives from the Ohio Pet Fund, a statewide program focused on expanding access to spay and neuter services.

If you’ve tried to schedule a low-cost spay or neuter appointment recently, you may have felt frustrated, even angry.

Appointments fill within hours. Phone messages don’t change for weeks. Websites don’t update as quickly as you’d hope. It can feel like clinics have disappeared.

But they haven’t.

The truth is both simpler, and more complicated, than it appears.

We spoke with OAA’s Board Member, Dr. Michelle “Dr. G” Gonzalez of the Rascal Unit to better understand what’s really happening behind the scenes.