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.

This month, Ohio Animal Advocates is highlighting a book that is perfect to acknowledge Wellness Month which is observed every August. Wellness is important for all creatures, and author Temple Grandin delves into this and more in Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals. This book is written for high school/college readers and older as it deals with more complex and potentially heavy topics.

Humans may not be the only primates drawn to caring for animals of another species. A new study highlighted by The New York Times examined 427 interactions across 88 primate species, finding behaviors that resemble some of the building blocks of human pet-keeping. Monkeys and apes were observed playing with, grooming, carrying, and even caring for animals of other species.

Ohio Animal Advocates recently submitted a letter of support for our partner, YWCA of Northwest Ohio, and its application for FY2026 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding. The YWCA of Northwest Ohio provides critical services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including outreach, safety support, emergency shelter, and assistance for survivors with pets.

Ohio’s dog-bite statute, R.C. 955.28(B), imposes strict liability on the “owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog” for any injury to a person or property caused by the dog. This means that owners, keepers, and harborers can be held responsible for injuries caused by a dog, regardless of whether they intended or could have foreseen the injury.

A federal judge has blocked another attempt by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to dramatically change how billions of dollars in federal homelessness funding are distributed.

A Columbus man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges involving dogfighting and methamphetamine distribution. Joel Brown admitted to keeping 11 pit bull-type dogs for fighting purposes in Franklin County. The investigation began in 2024 after a complaint to Columbus Humane prompted law enforcement to search a property where Brown was keeping dogs.

A longtime provider of affordable veterinary care in central Ohio has closed its doors. Shelter Outreach Services of Ohio (SOS Ohio), a nonprofit clinic serving rescue organizations and pet owners, announced its closure in late July. The organization cited a nationwide veterinarian shortage, rising operating costs, and increasing demand for affordable veterinary services as factors.

Earlier this year, Ohio Animal Advocates reported on changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) affecting how the agency handles housing complaints involving emotional support animals (ESAs). As advocates continue to examine the policy, one distinction is especially important: the Fair Housing Act has not changed.

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.

Three Thoroughbred horse trainers have received lengthy suspensions following separate cases involving banned substances, tampering, and prohibited association, according to BloodHorse. The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), which enforces national anti-doping and medication rules in Thoroughbred racing, issued penalties against trainers Luis Diaz, Erin Thompson, and Dominic Duree.

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.