The community of Canton, Ohio, is reeling after investigators uncovered a disturbing scene inside a home on Wertz Avenue. Following a tip from an animal rescue group, authorities executed a search warrant and discovered over 250 living rats, 100 deceased rats, dogs, turtles, and birds—all living among piles of filth, feces, and urine. Even more shocking, a box containing human bones was found inside.

Last month, Mexico City revised their civil code to elevate animal’s legal status from property to sentient beings. This seemingly small change has massive implications for our furry friends. Under the new law, every person has the obligation to respect the lives of animals and ensure their care. This means that they are no longer considered “things,” but living, breathing beings with both basic needs and loving care. 

In a groundbreaking shift, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced plans to phase out extramural grant funding for experiments involving dogs and cats. This decision comes after years of advocacy from animal welfare groups, including the White Coat Waste Project, and marks a major step toward more humane science.

The tragic death of Leonidas, a dog from Warren, Ohio, is another painful reminder of why stronger protections for animals are urgently needed.

Earlier this summer, the Friendship Animal Protective League (FAPL), with support from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department, seized 239 birds connected to an illegal cockfighting operation in Sheffield Township, Ohio. This marks the fourth cockfighting-related seizure in Lorain County this year alone.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has reported an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, in whitetail deer in several counties across the state.

On August 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Joel Brown, 38, of Franklin County, Ohio, pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting and drug crimes.

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.

Some books break your heart. Others ignite it. Dr. Nancy Kay’s middle-grade novel A Dog Named 647 manages to do both. Inspired by the hidden world of puppy mills, this story follows twelve-year-old Mia, who discovers an emaciated retriever identified only as 647. What begins as one girl’s encounter with a neglected dog quickly unfolds into a journey of courage, friendship, and activism.

In Orange, Vermont, beavers have been given a chance to thrive thanks to an innovative flow device known as a “beaver deceiver.” Installed by Beaver Deceivers LLC and funded primarily by In Defense of Animals (IDA), the device allows beavers to remain in their natural habitat while also preventing flooding that can damage roads and culverts.

On the morning of July 21, law enforcement officers responded to a false emergency call in Madison Township. The caller falsely claimed that a “grandma” had been shot in the kitchen of a home on the 3300 block of South Hamilton Road, near Hott Road.