In November 2025, the City of Sturgeon, Missouri agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a federal lawsuit over the police shooting of Teddy, a 13-pound blind and deaf Shih Tzu mix who posed no threat to public safety.

The settlement follows a lawsuit supported by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), which argued that the city and its police department violated the Fourth Amendment by using lethal force instead of humane animal control methods.

The Ohio Pet Fund provided Rascal Charities with an educational grant to offer teaching opportunities to veterinary students to improve their skills, confidence and experience while helping the community and animals. We are mentoring the veterinarians of tomorrow while helping the animals of today.

This year, OAA has increased our training efforts – from workshops on the link between animal and human violence, to community cat summits, and the Cleveland State University Animal Law Conference. Thanks to the support of the Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust, the Joanie Bernard Foundation, and United Spay Alliance, OAA, in partnership with Together Initiative for Ohio's Community Cats and Give Them Ten, was able to continue our annual in-person community cat summits in Cincinnati and Cleveland and expand our reach into communities in need.

Join us for a FREE in-person training on Advanced Animal Cruelty Investigations + Evidence Collection hosted by Pike County Sheriff's Office, Pike Pet Pals, Waverly Police Department, and The Humane Society of the United States.