Action Alerts

Your voice matters. Make a difference by using it to advocate for the issues you care about.

Advocacy organizations represent the views of like-minded individuals when it comes to supporting or opposing bills, but the most powerful voice still belongs to the individual constituent.

Current OAA action alerts are listed below. New alerts are added as laws are reintroduced in session throughout the year. We encourage you to review these alerts and take the specific action(s) requested in each (contacting officials, sharing on social media, etc.). We have included sample letters to make it easy to take action. Select a button below to jump directly to a section of action alerts.

FEDERAL ACTION ALERTS

STATE ACTION ALERTS

LOCAL ACTION ALERTS

PREVIOUS SUCCESSES

Who should I contact?

Select Federal to find your members of Congress for federal issues. Select State of Ohio to find your Ohio legislators for statewide issues.

FEDERAL

STATE OF OHIO

Federal Action Alerts:

H.R. 712 would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment act to expand the data collected around child abuse cases to include information about animal abuse further creating a better foundation for child abuse screening, prevention, and treatment programs and ultimately provide substantial benefits to children, families, and pets.
OAA Program Area: Pet Protection
Action Level: Federal
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association over 70% of the population owns a pet. Imagine if even half of those households were also abusing those pets and subsequently the children in the home. The first indicator could be a bit of suspicion from an animal cruelty officer responding to a call at the home. Decades of research and practical experience have established something called The Link.
The Link, more simply stated, is the phenomenon referring in which violence towards animals and violence towards people are often interconnected occurrences. Data collected internationally and nationally find the same thing: a correlation between child and abuse. Noted in the NIH article Understanding the Link, since the 1980s there has been an over 80% overlap in homes that have had reports of animal cruelty and child abuse. Currently there is a lack of data collection around animal abuse especially in relation to being a risk factor of indication for potential child abuse in the household.
H.R. 712 would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment act to expand the data collected around child abuse cases to include information about animal abuse further creating a better foundation for child abuse screening, prevention, and treatment programs and ultimately provide substantial benefits to children, families, and pets.
Introduced by Representatives Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Julia Brownley (D-CA) with the understanding that it is critical to pay attention to animal abuse in terms as a risk factor within the family to more accurately examine trends in child abuse and neglect.
According to the Animal Welfare Institute “...an article published in the FBI’s Law Enforcement Bulletin entitled The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence acknowledges animal cruelty as a form of domestic violence and makes clear the connection between animal abuse in the home and child abuse, and the likelihood of ongoing negative effects.” Read the Full Fact Sheet on H.R. 712
What You Can Do:
Contact your U.S. Representatives right now, and urge them to cosponsor these bills using the sample letter below. You can find your Representatives here.
Share this Action Alert on your social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to contact their U.S. Representatives about these important bills!
Take Action:
Dear Representative ______ ,
As your constituent, I am writing today to urge you to cosponsor and support the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act. H.R. 712.
H.R. 712 would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment act to expand the data collected around child abuse cases to include information about animal abuse further creating a better foundation for child abuse screening, prevention, and treatment programs and ultimately provide substantial benefits to children, families, and pets.
There is a consistent, coorelated, link in reports of homes with animal abuse and child abuse or neglect. Often times, this data is being collected by two different agencies minimizing the impact for potential screening, prevention, and proactive treatment to protect children and animals.
I urge you to support H.R. 712, and I look forward to hearing back from you on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
In 2024 over 100 bills and amendments were introduced in Congress with the varying goals of weakening the Endangered Species Act. Approaching it from funding, removing protections, and overall undermining the Act. Many of those bills and amendments have been reintroduced this year.
OAA Program Area: Wildlife Protection
Level: Federal
We understand that unlike our other action alerts this one does not have a specific bill or resolution to address. Due to the sheer volume of bills and attacks on the Endangered Species Act, it would be overwhelming to ask you, a concerned and active voice to review and address each one. That is why we’re using an umbrella approach and asking that you do the same with your state Representatives and members of the Senate.
The Endangered Species Act as we know it came to be a bill in 1973 following years of various acts protecting animals on a case by case basis. This came shortly after the Environmental Protection Agency was formed leading to other environmentally focused bills and acts such as the Clean Water Act. A full historic overview can be found here on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Website.
It’s easy to think of exotic animals or notably significant species when it comes to the Endangered Species Act. What’s impactful and intentional with this act is that it covers all animals, fish, insects, plants, fauna, anything that is impactful to the overall ecosystems and habitats of the environments they are a part of when they are in times of noticeable risk or danger of becoming extinct. This is so vital because each organism plays an important role in their ecosystems and habitats regardless of whether or not we as humans notice said impact daily. Eventually, we will notice, to our own detriment, their impact.
As of September 2024, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has listed 132 Ohio Native animals as endangered and 20 as extinct. For a full list of specifics from mammals and birds to insects and mollusks visit this link from the ODNR. While we all get annoyed with bugs in the summertime, their larger role within the balance and health of the ecosystem is worth that small nagging buzz. Every state has their own unique yet nationally intertwined ecosystem and the core piece of legislation to protect and prevent the breakdown of those ecosystems is being attacked.
What You Can Do:
Contact your U.S. Congress members right now, and urge them to fight and push against these bills using the sample letter below. You can find your congress members here. Please send to both your senators and house representatives.
Share this Action Alert on your social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to contact their U.S. Congress members about these important bills and fights!
Take Action:
Dear Congress Member ______ ,
As your constituent, I urge you to strongly support preserving imperiled species. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the strongest law we have to protect biodiversity, and I hope you will vigorously defend the ESA against efforts in Congress to weaken it.
Although the economic benefits of the ESA are rarely acknowledged, they are significant. We rely on innumerable plants and animals for medicine, jobs, recreation, clean water, and abundant natural resources. The ESA balances economic development with species protection, providing a sensible consultation process to ensure projects can move ahead while also preventing undue harm to our most vulnerable species. Both elements are vital to America's long-term prosperity.
The ESA is a remarkably successful law--99% of listed species have been spared from extinction, and a number of others, such as the bald eagle, grizzly bear, and humpback whale, are on the road to recovery. Not only is the ESA effective but it is also immensely popular: Multiple surveys have shown that four out of five Americans support the law. Additionally when signed into law in 1973, it was bipartisanly supported.
We need this law to protect the web of life that helps us and our economy thrive. I ask that you reject any legislation that seeks to undermine the ESA. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email

State Action Alerts:

Speak out against the proposed “Right to Hunt” Amendment to the Ohio Constitution.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection
ACTION LEVEL: State
Ohio HJR5 is a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that intends to give Ohioans “the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife” and “includes the right to use traditional methods”. HJR5 also states that only laws prescribed by the General Assembly can promote wildlife conservation and management or preserve the future of hunting and fishing, and that hunting and fishing should be the preferred means of wildlife management in Ohio.
HJR5 uses extreme language when compared to other similar right to hunt amendments seen in other states. This extreme language would cause many complications, especially when it comes to the regulatory authority of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), existing statutes and regulations, governance issues, law enforcement, and land use. It is even possible that the strong language of this amendment may cause it to infringe on other basic rights, such as the right for Ohioans to bring ballot initiatives on matters related to hunting and wildlife preservation.
This amendment also seeks to mislead people in order to make controversial hunting methods constitutionally protected, such as trapping, baiting, and hounding. Using the phrase, “traditional methods,” protects these methods as a constitutional right without ever mentioning them. These methods are under scrutiny by the public and are largely seen as inhumane, and if these methods were stated outright in the amendment, it would garner less support.
HJR5 would also put severe limitations on the authority of ODNR, the General Assembly, and the public to manage wildlife responsibly. Unlike many other right to hunt amendments, HJR5 does not contain a section that preserves the power of the state fish and wildlife management authorities. This points to an effort to remove regulatory authority from ODNR. The language also severely limits the authority of the General Assembly, giving it only the authority to pass laws to “promote wildlife conservation and management” and “preserve the future of hunting and fishing”. Finally, the language of HJR5 makes Ohioans unable to put forward ballot initiatives related to issues of hunting or wildlife management.
What You Can Do:
Contact your State Representatives and urge them to oppose Ohio HJR5 using the sample letter below. You can find your Representatives here.
Share this Action Alert on social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers in Ohio to contact their State Representatives about this amendment!
Take Action:
Dear Representative _____,
The proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution, HJR5, which intends to give Ohioans the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, is deeply flawed.
HJR5 contains language far stronger than right to hunt amendments of other states, which may infringe on the authority of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to manage wildlife effectively, the ability of the General Assembly to effectively pass laws regarding wildlife management or hunting, or even on the rights of Ohioans to bring forward ballot initiatives regarding wildlife management, wildlife conservation, or hunting.
HJR5 also intends to constitutionally protect controversial methods of hunting such as trapping, baiting, and hounding by using the phrase “traditional methods.” This misleading language may lead people to support the amendment without understanding exactly what it entails.
Finally, this amendment creates uncertainty with its unclear language. This amendment could come into conflict with existing statutes or regulations, make it difficult to prosecute poachers, cause issues with existing wildlife control methods, and have an unknown impact on other uses of land and water. Hunting is not under attack in Ohio, and this extreme measure could cause significant damage to ODNR’s wildlife management authority.
I urge you to oppose HJR5, and I look forward to your response on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection

ACTION LEVEL: State
Wildlife-killing contests are primitive and barbaric events, resulting in the senseless deaths of tens of thousands of wild animals. Sadly, thousands of these events occur across the United States every year. In Ohio, coyotes are targeted because the Ohio Division of Wildlife allows an open season on hunting them.
In fact, coyote hunting – by any means – is legal year-round in Ohio. Geoff Westerfield, spokesperson for ODNR Division of Wildlife, stated, “The Division of Wildlife does not endorse or prohibit group coyote hunts”.
Approximately one coyote is killed every minute of every day. Help stop the killing by promoting peaceful existence. Please join OAA and other critical animal welfare partners in asking your local officials and ODNR Division of Wildlife to ban coyote/wildlife killing contests.
Nine states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, and Washington — have already outlawed these events within their borders.
What You Can Do:
Please use the sample letter below to send your comments, requesting the end to wildlife killing contests, to ODNR/Division of Wildlife.
Please share this Action Alert with family, friends, and co-workers in Ohio, and encourage them to contact ODNR Division of Wildlife as well.
Letters to ODNR can be addressed to Chief Kendra Wecker at Wildlife Central Office, 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. G, Columbus, OH, 43229, (614) 265-6304 or kendra.wecker@dnr.state.oh.us.
Take Action:
Dear Chief Wecker, Division of Wildlife, ODNR:
Wildlife-killing contests are primitive and barbaric events, resulting in the senseless deaths of tens of thousands of wild animals. Sadly, thousands of these events occur across the United States every year. In Ohio, coyotes are targeted because the Ohio Division of Wildlife allows an open season on hunting them.
- Wildlife-killing contests are brutal spectacles that sacrifice innocent animals for the sake of entertainment. Even many hunters have condemned them as unethical.
- There is no concept of “fair chase” during these shocking and senseless competitions.
- A wide variety of tactics are used to attract, manipulate, or confuse wildlife.
- Animals are often baited or lured toward the hunters with electronic calling devices that mimic the distress calls of wounded young.
- Dependent young may be orphaned during contests and left to die from starvation, predation, or exposure.  Killing contests also conflict with modern principles of wildlife management.
- Research has shown that they do not decrease coyote numbers. On the contrary, they often actually increase coyote populations by destabilizing family structures, which tends to increase reproductive rates.
- Studies also have demonstrated that randomly killing native carnivores does not protect livestock or game species, which contest participants often cite as justification for their actions.
I respectfully request that the ODNR Division of Wildlife bans the practice of wildlife-killing contests in the state of Ohio.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email

Local Action Alerts:

Speak up and urge the Columbus City Council to end this cruel trade.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection
ACTION LEVEL: Local
Each year, over 100 million animals are killed for their fur, and over 90% for large-scale fur farms. Most fur production takes place in China, where there are little to no animal welfare regulations. Animals are forced to live in confined, wire-bottom cages, where they are deprived of the ability to exhibit their natural behaviors. The animals are then killed in cruel ways, such as gassing or anal electrocution.
As of yet, there are no federal laws in the United States protecting animals on fur farms. Only thirteen cities across America have banned the sale of new fur. Modern technological advances have pushed major high fashion houses, like Dolce & Gabbana, to use faux fur made from recycled plastics. With high-quality, sustainable alternatives like these, more than 20 countries have begun to ban fur farming.
Fur production has major impacts on public health and the environment. The dying and tanning process uses toxic chemicals that have been proven to be harmful to humans, such as chromium and formaldehyde. Additionally, framed minks are the only animals known to transmit coronavirus to humans. Fur farms become large reservoirs for infectious diseases.
Chapter 544 would amend the Columbus Code to prohibit trade in new fur products. This would have no effect on second-hand shops or thrift stores that sell used fur products. Currently, there are only two stores within the Columbus region that sell fur products.
This past October, the Columbus Fashion Council held a fur-free runway show. Fashion Week Columbus featured seven days of presentations and runway shows. The collections showcased six different designers’ intricate looks without the use of animal furs.
What You Can Do:
Please use the sample letter below to send to the Columbus City Council, rallying against the cruel and unregulated market of new fur. You can find the contact information for the Columbus City Councilmembers on their website directory here.
Take Action:
Dear Columbus City Council,
As a resident of Columbus, I am writing to show support in favor of amending the Columbus Code to prohibit trade in fur products (Chapter 544) along with the 71 percent of Americans who oppose killing innocent animals for fur.
The City of Columbus has continually taken steps over the past years to become a leader in animal welfare. With Columbus’ voters repeatedly demonstrating deep concern about humane treatment and the well-being of animals, it is time to take action.
Not only does this have a major effect on animals’ livelihoods, but our environment and public health as well. More than 470 fur farms across Europe and North America had tested positive for coronaviruses. Leading to nearly 20 million minks being killed due to their ability to transfer Covid-19 to humans. In addition, fur production consumes large amounts of energy and emits high pollution levels.
Phasing out the sale of new fur allows Columbus to be a role model in the animal welfare community. With new technology to make faux fur, this grossly unnecessary production of new fur sales needs to go. I hope you will work to protect these beloved animals from cruelty by amending this legislation. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
Tell your school or local school district about the Science Bank and encourage them to borrow humane science alternatives to replace animal dissection. It’s FREE to borrow – the only cost is for return shipping. Provide the following contact information to your school: thesciencebank.org

Successes from Previous Years:

Federal Legislation:
- H.R. 4389, the Migratory Birds of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act of 2023, was signed into law on April 24, 2024. Once enacted, H.R. 4389 will increase the federal cost share of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act program from 25% to 33% with a 1-2 public-to-private match – allowing more partners to participate in the program and thus generating a wider variety of projects and reducing barriers to conservation action.
Federal Legislation:
- H.R. 263, The Big Cat Public Safety Act, was signed by President Biden, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming majority in July, and passing the United States Senate 100-0 this fall. This law will end the exploitation of tiger cubs in photo opportunities, and require private owners to register the animal(s) they already have, while forbidding them from breeding those animals or acquiring more.
- The U.S. Congress passed the 2023 federal omnibus appropriations bill, which included the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which disposes of the outdated requirement that drugs be tested on non-human animals. This act is the biggest legislative win for animals in U.S. labs in decades – eliminating the mandate in place since 1938 that required FDA-approved drugs be tested on animals.
State Legislation:
- Ohio Senate Bill 164 was signed by the Governor 1/3/23 after it passed out of the House this past December. This bill, sponsored by Senators Jay Hottinger and Kenny Yuko, revises the law and penalties associated with companion animal cruelty; generally prohibits an animal shelter from destroying a domestic animal by the use of a gas chamber, and prohibits the remains of euthanized dogs and cats in pet food. Animal cruelty is a heinous act against some of the most vulnerable members of society, and is linked to other crimes including domestic violence, child maltreatment, and child abuse. It was time to elevate the punishment for the torture and killing of innocent animals, and increase the chance of saving human lives.
- Ohio Senate Bill 392 was signed by the Governor. This bill authorizes ambulance transport of an injured police dog when the dog is injured in the line of duty.
- Ohio S.J.R. 3 was defeated. This bill would have removed Ohioans constitutional right to vote on wildlife issues, and prioritize hunting and trapping as the preferred method of managing wildlife populations. By stopping this bill, Ohio’s democracy and the management of wildlife using science-based principles was protected.
State Legislation
- H.B. 33 was signed by the Governor in a virtual ceremony on January 6, 2021, after passing the Senate 31-0. This bill requires cross-reporting of animal and human violence. By requiring social service professionals in the course of a home visit to contact humane agents when there are signs of animal abuse, H.B. 33 may save an animal’s life and help prevent the escalation of violence in a family. This bill becomes law 90 days after bill signing.
- H.B. 67 passed out of the legislature and was signed by the Governor. It provides charitable spay-neuter services by veterinarians and is an innovative solution to advancing spay-neuter opportunities in Ohio by creating the Veterinarian Student Debt Assistance Program. The Program allows the State Veterinary Medical Licensing Board to repay all or part of an educational loan in return for performing charitable veterinarian services including free spay-neuter services that help accomplish the community goal of reducing the population of homeless animals in Ohio.
- H.B. 24 was passed with an amendment to make bestiality and cockfighting a crime throughout Ohio. In 2016, Ohio passed laws making bestiality a misdemeanor and cockfighting a felony but a legislative mistake and a court’s decision led to bestiality remaining legal and cockfighting remaining a misdemeanor in eight Northern Ohio counties. This bill makes sexual activity with animals a second-degree misdemeanor, and animal fighting a felony statewide.
- H.B. 553 was defeated. This was a reckless proposal that threatened to abolish the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s authority to regulate the hunting of coyotes. Science-based control of hunting, trapping and fishing in Ohio is crucial. Had this bill passed, it would have empowered politicians, rather than wildlife scientists at the Ohio DNR, to set the rules around hunting. Following strong pushback, the Ohio House Energy and Natural Resources Committee tabled this bill. OAA and our constituents will remain vigilant if this bill reappears in the current legislative session.