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issue—one that communities across the country continue to grapple with: What happens when compassion collides with outdated or ineffective policies?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.

We’re excited to share a major update in the world of humane education: the RedRover Readers On-Demand Online Course — previously $35 — is now completely FREE for everyone.

This self-paced, online workshop is designed to help educators, advocates, and caregivers foster empathy, compassion, and social-emotional learning in children through meaningful, animal-themed stories and discussion.

When someone experiences domestic violence, the safety of their pets is often at risk too. Abusers may harm or threaten animals as a way to maintain control. Recognizing this, many states have adopted animal-inclusive protection order statutes, allowing survivors to include their pets in protective orders.

For the past several years, Ohio Animal Advocates has been honored to partner with Walking Wild Rescue, a unique and deeply committed sanctuary that provides a second chance to foxes and other animals in need. Many of you have joined us on our Real Ohio Tours to their facility—where compassion, dedication, and heart are felt in every enclosure built and every life saved.

Today, we are reaching out to ask for your help during one of the most heartbreaking moments in the lives of Walking Wild’s founders.