Action Alerts

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. Your voice matters, and the only way to make a difference is by using it to advocate for the issues you care about.

Current OAA action alerts are listed below. New alerts are added as laws are reintroduced in session throughout the current 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

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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:

Urge Congress to prohibit the private possession of nonhuman primates!
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection
ACTION LEVEL: Federal
Pet primates suffer enormously in captivity. They are often forcibly removed from their mothers soon after birth; spend their lives confined in small cages; and endure unnecessary, painful procedures such as tooth extraction to make them less dangerous.
Private ownership of primates not only threatens public safety but can also strain the resources of the community and rescue organizations. Local police departments and other first responders are not trained or equipped to deal with wild animals, but when a dangerous primate escapes from someone’s home, they are the ones forced to make difficult decisions about how to handle these unpredictable situations.
The Captive Primate Safety Act would amend the Lacey Act to prohibit the private possession of nonhuman primates (such as chimpanzees, galagos, gibbons, gorillas, lemurs, lorises, monkeys, orangutans, and tarsiers). This prohibition is narrowly focused on pet primates and exempts zoos, research labs, sanctuaries, and universities. Private citizens would be allowed to keep pet primates they currently own but would be required to register their animals to ensure that first responders and animal control officers are aware of the presence of wild animals in their communities. Information sourced from the Animal Welfare Institute.
What You Can Do:
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives right now and urge them to cosponsor these bills using the sample letter below. You can find your Senator and Representatives here.
Share this Action Alert on your social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to contact Congress about these important bills!
Take Action:
Dear Representative ______,
As your constituent, I am writing today to urge you to support the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 8164). This legislation is crucial to prohibiting the importation, exportation, interstate commerce, and private ownership of nonhuman primates for the “pet” trade.
This act is essential for safeguarding the welfare of primates, who have complex psychological and physical needs that cannot be met in a human home. Unlike dogs and cats, apes and monkeys are not domesticated animals. Primates kept in human homes are rarely, if ever, monitored by animal welfare officials, which means they are often kept in unsuitable living conditions resulting in neglect, mistreatment, and myriad psychological and physical ailments that can lead to death. The Captive Primate Safety Act prioritizes both the well-being of these animals and public safety.
Once again, I ask that you support the Captive Primate Safety Act to prohibit the private possession of nonhuman primates. I look forward to hearing your response on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
Dear Senator ______,
As your constituent, I am writing today to urge you to support the Captive Primate Safety Act (S. 4206). This legislation is crucial to prohibiting the importation, exportation, interstate commerce, and private ownership of nonhuman primates for the “pet” trade.
This act is essential for safeguarding the welfare of primates, who have complex psychological and physical needs that cannot be met in a human home. Unlike dogs and cats, apes and monkeys are not domesticated animals. Primates kept in human homes are rarely, if ever, monitored by animal welfare officials, which means they are often kept in unsuitable living conditions resulting in neglect, mistreatment, and myriad psychological and physical ailments that can lead to death. The Captive Primate Safety Act prioritizes both the well-being of these animals and public safety.
Once again, I ask that you support the Captive Primate Safety Act to prohibit the private possession of nonhuman primates. I look forward to hearing your response on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
H.R. 7248 would facilitate the development of testing methods that reduce or replace the use of animals in nonclinical testing.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Humane Education
ACTION LEVEL: Federal
According to HSUS, about 50 million animals, ranging from rodents and monkeys to cats and dogs, are used by American researchers in experiments every year. This long-standing statutory requirement is cruel, expensive, and time-consuming.
The FDA Modernization Act 2.0 was signed into law in December 2022, eliminating the animal testing requirement and empowering researchers to employ less harmful or non-animal methods for human-use drugs, such as cell-based arrays, organ chips, computer modeling, and bioprinting. However, additional clarity is needed for these approaches to be accepted by FDA and utilized by drug developers.
H.R. 7248 would facilitate the development of testing methods that reduce or replace the use of animals in nonclinical testing. In addition, this bill would require the FDA to establish a process to qualify nonclinical testing methods and expedite drug applications that incorporate such approaches. The bill was introduced by Representative Buddy Carter along with 10 original cosponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This bipartisan effort will end needless suffering from animal testing through alternative humane technologies.
“The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 will allow for development of safe, effective treatments and therapies without unnecessary animal suffering. We have a law allowing for animal-free testing methods on the books, and it’s time we put it to use by expanding testing options,” said Rep. Carter (Read the full press release here).
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 FDA Modernization Act 3.0 (H.R. 7248). This bipartisan legislation will end needless suffering from animal testing by utilizing alternative humane technologies.
H.R. 7248 would facilitate the development of testing methods that reduce or replace the use of animals in nonclinical testing. In addition, this bill would require the FDA to establish a process to qualify nonclinical testing methods and expedite drug applications that incorporate such approaches.
The FDA Modernization Act 2.0 was signed into law in December 2022, eliminating the animal testing requirement and empowering researchers to employ less harmful or non-animal methods for human-use drugs such as cell-based arrays, organ chips, computer modeling, and bioprinting. However, additional clarity is needed for these approaches to be accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and utilized by drug developers.
I urge you to support H.R. 7248, and I look forward to hearing back from you on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
Speak up to outright ban this cruel and unnecessary industry.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection
ACTION LEVEL: Federal
The Mink: Vectors for Infection Risk in the United States Act (Mink VIRUS Act, H.R. 3783), introduced by Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), would phase out mink farming in the US over one year and establish a grant program to reimburse mink farmers for the full value of their farm so that they’re able to transition to another industry. This new bill seeks to address the public health and animal welfare crisis created by farming mink for their fur.
Every year at U.S. fur farms, more than a million mink are killed—typically by gassing to avoid damage to their pelts— for no purpose other than to provide trim on coats and poms on hats, purses or gloves. They suffer immensely on these factory farms, where they typically live in horrendous conditions, cramped into small wire cages that deny them the ability to express their natural behaviors such as running, digging and swimming.
Fur farms house mink in crowded, cruel environments that create an ideal setting for pathogens to circulate. Wire cages are packed together and may be stacked on top of each other so that waste falls on the animals below. These animals are highly stressed due to the miserable conditions and are thus more susceptible to infection.
Not only are farmed mink highly susceptible to COVID-19, but they are also capable of transmitting the virus to humans. A growing body of science shows how mink are particularly high-risk “mixing vessels” for producing dangerous variants of respiratory diseases that are potentially transmissible to humans. Farmed mink-to-human transmission of the virus has been reported in at least six countries so far, including the U.S. Moreover, transmission of COVID-19 from fur-farmed mink to humans could introduce new variants, undermining the effectiveness of vaccines. Millions of animals throughout hundreds of mink fur farms have been culled in Europe in response to SARS-CoV-2. Now, more than 50,000 mink have been culled on one fur farm in Spain as a result of avian flu. This level of disease risk for the sake of fur fashion simply cannot be justified.
What You Can Do:
Contact your U.S. Representatives right now, and urge them to cosponsor and support the Mink VIRUS Act, to protect both mink and the public 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 a constituent, I want to communicate my deep concern about COVID-19 and avian flu outbreaks on mink farms and urge you to cosponsor the Mink VIRUS Act (H.R. 3783).
Farms that raise mink for their pelts present a clear, immediate danger to public health. A growing body of science shows how, due to their lung physiology, mink are particularly high-risk “mixing vessels” for producing dangerous variants of respiratory diseases that are potentially transmissible to humans. These fur farms house mink in crowded, cruel environments that create an ideal setting for pathogens to circulate and threaten to usher in the next pandemic.
Not only are farmed mink highly susceptible to disease, but they are also capable of transmitting the virus to humans. For example, COVID-19 infected millions of farmed mink, and there were several recorded instances of the mink passing a mutated form of this virus back to humans. In addition, a deadly avian influenza virus infected mink on a fur farm in Spain in October 2022. This was the first time this virus spread widely between mammals, and it could invade other mink farms and become still more transmissible.
The Mink VIRUS Act is an opportunity to address this public health crisis by phasing out mink farming in the US and establishing a grant program to reimburse mink farmers for the full value of their farm. The mink farming industry, already struggling due to a decreased demand for fur in recent years, has been reliant on taxpayer-funded subsidies and relief dollars. This grant program would provide mink farmers with the resources to transition to other industries that are more financially sustainable and do not threaten public health.
I urge you to support H.R. 3783, and I look forward to hearing back from you on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
We need YOU to stop the U.S. horse slaughter pipeline.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Humane Education
ACTION LEVEL: Federal
Every year, thousands of American horses endure long, cruel transports across our borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. Horses are shipped for more than 24 hours at a time without food, water or rest in crowded trucks. They are often seriously injured or killed in transit. The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act would prohibit the slaughter of horses in the United States for human consumption, as well as the export of live horses for the same purpose.
Horses are skittish by nature which makes accurate pre-slaughter stunning difficult. As a result, horses often endure repeated blows and sometimes remain conscious during dismemberment. Before the last domestic plant closed in 2007, the USDA documented in the slaughter pipeline rampant cruelty violations and severe injuries to horses, including broken bones protruding from their bodies, eyeballs hanging by a thread of skin, and gaping wounds.
The USDA documented that 92.3% of horses sent to slaughter are in good condition and are able to live out a productive life. These horses would be sold, donated or otherwise rehomed; however, kill buyers outbid legitimate horse owners and rescues at auctions, robbing horses of ever having a second chance at life.
The US Food and Drug Administration bans the presence of 379 common equine drugs in animals slaughtered for human consumption. However, there is no procedure in place to ensure that American horses killed for human consumption are free of these FDA-banned substances. When horses are sold, there is no required transfer of information regarding the substances they received during their lifetime. Therefore, there is no mechanism in place to ensure horses frequently bought at auction by kill buyers have not been given dangerous substances before they become part of the food chain.
A study published in May 2010 in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology found that substances routinely given to American horses cause dangerous adverse effects in humans. One commonly used anti-inflammatory drug, phenylbutazone (bute), can be lethal if ingested by people. The most serious effect of bute on humans is bone-marrow toxicity, leading to agranulocytosis (failure to produce white blood cells, causing chronic infections) and aplastic anemia (insufficient production of red and white blood cells and platelets). Similar blood conditions such as leucopenia, hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, and thrombocytopenia may also occur in people who consume bute. The National Toxicology Program has determined that bute is a carcinogen. For these reasons, the FDA bans this substance for human consumption.
Nearly all racehorses in America are treated with bute. Racehorses are frequently shipped to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered for human consumption when their performance flags, often within days or weeks of receiving their last dose of bute. Horsemeat may be ground together with beef and sold without proper identification, so consumers could be unwittingly ingesting banned substances, with serious health implications.
The European Union has a policy prohibiting importation of the meat of any horse who has ever received bute. Nitrofurazone, the most common wound ointment given to American horses, is also prohibited for use on any horse whose meat is shipped to EU countries.
The United States needs to shut down the horse slaughter channels that currently put consumers at risk and ensure that meat from American horses is not jeopardizing the health and lives of consumers.
What You Can Do:
Contact your U.S. Representatives AND Senators right now and urge them to cosponsor and support these bills using the sample letter below. You can find your Members of Congress here.
Share this Action Alert on your social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers in Ohio to contact their U.S. Representatives about these important bills!
Take Action:
Dear Senator ______,
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to cosponsor the bipartisan Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (S. 2037) and join with the over 80 percent of Americans who want to see horses protected from slaughter.
Every year, thousands of American horses endure long, cruel transports across our borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. The abuse and suffering inflicted by the predatory horse slaughter industry is well documented. Kill buyers typically obtain healthy horses to send to slaughter, often from unsuspecting owners who believe their horse is going to a good home.
Once in the slaughter pipeline, horses endure long and grueling journeys to slaughter plants in Canada or Mexico with little to no rest, water, or food. At the slaughterhouse, horses are forced into the “kill box” where they may endure repeated blows to the head and neck before being rendered unconscious. Due to their instinctive fight-or-flight reflex, some horses are inadequately stunned and remain conscious during the butchering process.
Furthermore, there is currently no system in the United States to track medications given to horses to ensure that horse meat is safe for human consumption. Horses are not raised for food and routinely receive medications and chemical treatments (e.g., phenylbutazone, fly spray, and dewormers) that contain toxic ingredients and are expressly prohibited by the FDA for use in meat products.
The bipartisan SAFE Act would prevent horse slaughter plants from re-opening in the United States while also ensuring that American horses are not exported to Canada or Mexico for the same purpose. I hope you will work to protect these beloved animals from cruelty by cosponsoring this widely supported legislation.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
Dear Representative ______,
As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to cosponsor the bipartisan Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475) and join with the over 80 percent of Americans who want to see horses protected from slaughter.
Every year, thousands of American horses endure long, cruel transports across our borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. The abuse and suffering inflicted by the predatory horse slaughter industry is well documented. Kill buyers typically obtain healthy horses to send to slaughter, often from unsuspecting owners who believe their horse is going to a good home.
Once in the slaughter pipeline, horses endure long and grueling journeys to slaughter plants in Canada or Mexico with little to no rest, water, or food. At the slaughterhouse, horses are forced into the “kill box” where they may endure repeated blows to the head and neck before being rendered unconscious. Due to their instinctive fight-or-flight reflex, some horses are inadequately stunned and remain conscious during the butchering process.
Furthermore, there is currently no system in the United States to track medications given to horses to ensure that horse meat is safe for human consumption. Horses are not raised for food and routinely receive medications and chemical treatments (e.g., phenylbutazone, fly spray, and dewormers) that contain toxic ingredients and are expressly prohibited by the FDA for use in meat products.
The bipartisan SAFE Act would prevent horse slaughter plants from re-opening in the United States while also ensuring that American horses are not exported to Canada or Mexico for the same purpose. I hope you will work to protect these beloved animals from cruelty by cosponsoring this widely supported legislation.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
Speak up to grant Greyhounds the same protection as other dog breeds from the racing industry.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Breed Discrimination
ACTION LEVEL: Federal
The Greyhound Protection Act (H.R. 3894) will make it a federal crime to engage in commercial dog racing. The bill also bars US gamblers from betting on foreign races and blocks the export of American dogs for racing elsewhere.
Racing greyhounds endure lives of confinement, spending 20-23 hours a day in stacked cages. Since 2008, over 19,000 injuries and 1,000 deaths have been documented at American tracks. Since 2020, greyhound breeders in four states have been documented sacrificing rabbits in cruel live lure training exercises. American dollars should not be used to prop up foreign dog tracks.
The Greyhound Protection Act is endorsed by over 250 animal protection organizations spanning fifteen countries. Commercial dog racing is a dying industry, and now exists in only one American state: West Virginia. Delaware North, the company that owns these two final dog tracks, is neutral on the bill and supports free-market legislation that would allow its casinos to operate free of dog racing.
Greyhound racing is already illegal in 42 states. The amount wagered on greyhound racing declines each year, as other forms of gaming increase in popularity. Since 2022, legislation prohibiting betting on greyhound racing has passed in Colorado, Kansas, and Massachusetts.
What You Can Do:
Please let your US Representative know you would like them to support H.R.3894, the Greyhound Protection Act (find your US Representative here).
Share this Action Alert on your social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to contact their US Representative and ask them to support H.R. 3894, the Greyhound Protection Act!
Take Action:
Dear Representative ________________,
I am writing to you today to urge you to support H.R. 3894, the Greyhound Protection Act.
The Greyhound Protection Act prohibits the inhumane practice of greyhound racing in the United States. It also outlaws remote wagering on greyhound races simulcast from foreign countries, and prevents the shipment of greyhounds for the purpose of dog racing.
Racing greyhounds endure lives of confinement, spending 20-23 hours a day in stacked cages. Since 2008, over 19,000 injuries and 1,000 deaths have been documented at American tracks. Since 2020, greyhound breeders in four states have been documented sacrificing rabbits in cruel live lure training exercises. American dollars should not be used to prop up foreign dog tracks.
The Greyhound Protection Act is endorsed by over 250 animal protection organizations spanning fifteen countries. Commercial dog racing is a dying industry, and now exists in only one American state: West Virginia. Delaware North, the company that owns these two final dog tracks, is neutral on the bill and supports free-market legislation that would allow its casinos to operate free of dog racing.
Greyhound racing is already illegal in 42 states. The amount wagered on greyhound racing declines each year, as other forms of gaming increase in popularity. Since 2022, legislation prohibiting betting on greyhound racing has passed in Colorado, Kansas, and Massachusetts.
As your constituent, I strongly believe that H.R 3894, the Greyhound Protection Act, should be passed through Congress. Greyhounds deserve the same protections as other dogs, and with your support of The Greyhound Protection Act, we can give them the life they deserve.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
Speak up to provide critical support for unhoused people with pets.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Housing or Financial Insecurity
ACTION LEVEL: Federal
Hundreds of thousands of Americans experience homelessness every year. For many, their greatest source of comfort and unconditional love is their pet. Sadly, many pet owners struggle to access support, and may even refuse lifesaving shelter if it means that they must leave their pets behind.
On June 9th, 2023, Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the bi-partisan Providing for Unhoused People with Pets (PUPP) Act to Congress. If passed, this bill would establish a grant program to support shelters and transitional housing facilities that accommodate both people and their pets. This proactive approach recognizes the impact of the human-animal bond and aims to reduce the barriers that often prevent families with pets from accessing shelter.
Unfortunately, the 2023 Farm Bill did not include the PUPP Act. However, there is still a chance for negotiation, and we strongly encourage you to continue calling and emailing your congressional members, urging them to ensure the PUPP Act passes through any possible means this Congress.
Alongside the PUPP Act, the Pets Belong with Families Act takes a broader perspective on supporting families experiencing housing insecurity and their pets. The goal of this bill to prohibit public housing providers from imposing breed restrictions on residents’ pets, protecting 1.2 million households who rely on public housing from unsupported, discriminatory policies.
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 in Ohio to contact their U.S. Representatives about these important bills!
Take Action:
Dear Representative _______,
I am writing today to urge you to cosponsor and support both the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2022 and the Pets Belong With Families Act to protect and shelter people and animals in our community.
Unfortunately, when those experiencing homelessness seek shelter, many find that interim and permanent housing options do not have the proper facilities to accommodate pets. As a result, individuals experiencing homelessness often face an impossible choice: seek a roof over their heads or stay with their pet. I believe that pets are family, and that no one should have to choose between family and shelter.
More than 70% of U.S. households include pets and the social support they offer has been shown to improve both the physical and mental health of their owners. Pets provide comfort, companionship, a sense of safety, and promote stronger feelings of self-worth. Among the unhoused population, animal companionship is particularly fortifying and may encourage individuals to achieve sobriety, avoid incarceration, or leave an abuser. Despite persistent misconceptions, the pets of people experiencing homelessness are typically well loved and well cared for. For the unhoused individuals who are animal guardians, their pets provide a sense of responsibility and purpose that helps them improve their lives, while reducing loneliness through unconditional love and companionship. Still, many pet-owning individuals and families continue to face limited access to shelter, services, and housing.
I urge you to cosponsor and support the following pieces of legislation:
Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2022: H.R.8074 (Rep. Crow [D-CO])
If passed, H.R.8074 would establish a grant program for interim and permanent housing that accommodates individuals and families who are homeless and have pets. These funds would also provide for additional veterinary services, including spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and other basic medical care. This essential funding will help the most vulnerable members of our community access the support they need to care for their pets.
Pets Belong With Families Act: H.R.5828 (Rep. Schiff [D-CA-28])
If passed, H.R.5828 would prohibit public housing agencies from imposing breed restrictions on pets owned by residents of public housing units.
There is no evidence that breed-specific restrictions make communities safer. In fact, a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations have rejected the validity of breed restrictions, including the Center for Disease Control, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the American Bar Association, the Humane Society of the United States, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This bill will protect the 1.2 million households who rely on public housing from discriminatory policies based on the breed of their pet.
As your constituent, I urge you to cosponsor both the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2022 and the Pets Belong With Families Act to address a part of the growing housing crisis, while keeping families together.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email

State Action Alerts:

H.B. 495 would prohibit the sale of cosmetics tested on animals except in certain specified circumstances.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Humane Education

ACTION LEVEL: State
Although the FDA does not require animal cosmetic testing, individual manufacturers test approximately 2.5 million animals per year to “ensure” a product’s safety for humans. The FDA has even stated that it encourages alternatives to testing animals and supports humane practices of verifying products. Animal testing unnecessarily harms animals and has not proven beneficial in the cosmetics industry. One animal test known as the LD50 is used to determine the precise amount of substance that is lethal to humans. The LD50 test force feeds chemicals and pumps fragrances into animals increasing the dosage until half die.
According to PETA, animal testing has claimed the lives of nearly 500,00 animals per year, these deaths include force-feeding of chemical substances, injections into body parts such as eyes, and skin irritation testing, all done without pain relievers. The FDA has even stated that it encourages alternatives to testing animals and supports humane practices of verifying products. Animal testing unnecessarily harms animals and has not proven beneficial in the cosmetics industry.
Furthermore, the Animal Legal Defense Fund states that this cosmetic testing costs the federal government 15 billion a year and can take years to complete. Even something as futile as a skin irritation test on rabbits can cost up to $2,000. With testing being both expensive and tedious, it is clear that we should support measures to end animal testing.
H.B. 495 would “prohibit the sale of cosmetics tested on animals except on certain specified circumstances.” These circumstances include testing done outside of the U.S. in order to comply with foreign regulatory requirements and testing prior to the enactment of this bill. This legislation would substantially limit the influence and impact of animal testing in everyday cosmetics.
What You Can Do:
Contact your Ohio 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 Ohio Representatives about these important bills!
Take Action:
Dear Representative,
As your constituent, I am writing today to urge you to cosponsor and support the prohibition of cosmetic animal testing (H.B. 495). This bipartisan legislation will end needless suffering from animal testing by prohibiting the sale of cosmetics tested on animals except in certain specified circumstances.
H.B. 495 would substantially reduce animal testing fatalities and abuse, ending many years of harm. 45 countries have already enacted a full animal testing ban and support the abolishment of utilizing animals for unnecessary testing. This bill will make Ohio a leader in ending time-consuming and highly expensive animal testing practices which have been proven as unnecessary in the cosmetics industry.
I urge you to support H.B. 495, and I look forward to hearing back from you on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
H.B. 539 would stop Ohio breeders from performing surgeries on puppy mill dogs.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Puppy Mills
ACTION LEVEL: State
For the past decade, Ohio has increased the number of puppy mills from 100+ to 500+ breeders – meanwhile, the number of Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) inspectors has decreased since the start of the original ODA regulatory program. So how does ODA enforce the laws regulating the puppy mills with more mills and less inspectors? By passing regulations that give the breeders heads up to when their inspections are – so they can dump dogs on rescues in Ohio and surrounding states with the threat of euthanasia if the rescues don’t take them in. Furthermore, breeders have been allowed to perform backyard surgeries including tail docking and dewclaw removal – claiming these surgeries aren’t medically necessary so they can do them with a ‘how-to-manual’ as though the puppies are washing machines.
Is this a travesty? Yes, but it’s nothing new for Ohio. In 2021, HSUS’s Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio had 16 of the nation’s worst puppy mills. In one such mill, ODA found that dental operations were performed by breeders instead of veterinarians, resulting in the death of a Yorkshire Terrier.
In 2023, HSUS’s Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio had 13 of the nation’s worst puppy mills, making Ohio that year third worst in the nation. In one of the Ohio puppy mills, the ODA found one of the breeders performed do-it-yourself euthanasia on five puppies without a veterinarian, and was referred to legal counsel. In another Ohio puppy mill situation, ODA referred the breeder to the state’s legal counsel due to the “egregious nature” of an injured dog with lacerations that were not addressed. A Cavapoo had apparently been in a dangerous predicament for some time without being noticed: “her collar slip[ped] from her neck becoming lodged between her maxilla and mandible. Lacerations along with wound odor were present.” Meanwhile, another breeder threatened to kill a dog in front of the ODA inspector in response to violations.
This year, HSUS’s 2024 Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio has 20 of the nation’s worst puppy mills – giving Ohio the dubious title of ‘second worst state in the nation for puppy mills’ again. Many of the Ohio inspection reports show breeders using dirty and non-surgical tools to tail dock puppies – including hoof picks for horses, sheet metal tools, human or animal nail clippers, and swiss army knives – all without anesthesia. ODA claimed in 2022 when they passed regulations allowing the breeders to tail dock with a ‘how-to-manual’ that breeders would be using sterile surgical instruments.
These inhumane practices in puppy mills must be stopped, and H.B. 539 will help that happen. H.B. 539 will:
- Require ODA to do unannounced inspections of breeders, thus preventing breeders from dumping dogs on rescues or killing them before announced inspections.
- Ban breeders from doing ANY surgeries, including tail docking or dew claw removal. Cutting through bone, tissue and blood vessels, without anesthesia, should not be done by breeders without a college degree much less a veterinary license. Current regulations say breeders must use aseptic surgical instruments – yet breeders are still using dirty, non-surgical instruments.
What You Can Do:
Contact your State Representatives and urge them to support Ohio H.B. 539 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!
You can track the progress of H.B. 539 here.
Take Action:
Dear Representative ______ ,
As your constituent, I am requesting that you co-sponsor and support H.B. 539 that would revise the laws governing high-volume commercial dog breeders.
HSUS’s 2024 Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio has 20 of the nation’s worst puppy mills, making Ohio again the second worst state in the nation for puppy mills. Many of the Ohio inspection reports show breeders using dirty and non-surgical tools to tail dock puppies – including hoof picks for horses, sheet metal tools, human or animal nail clippers, and swiss army knives – all without anesthesia. One breeder was caught using rusty scissors. ODA claimed in 2022, when they passed regulations allowing breeders to tail dock, that breeders would be using sterile surgical instruments.
These inhumane practices in puppy mills must be stopped, and H.B. 539 will help that happen. H.B. 539 will:
- Require ODA to do unannounced inspections of breeders, thus preventing breeders from dumping dogs on rescues or killing them before announced inspections.
- Ban breeders from doing ANY surgeries, including tail docking or dew claw removal. Cutting through bone, tissue and blood vessels, without anesthesia, should not be done by breeders without a college degree much less a veterinary license. Current regulations say breeders must use aseptic surgical instruments – yet breeders are still using dirty, non-surgical instruments.
I strongly urge you to support Ohio H.B. 539, which would eliminate many of the inhumane practices that exist in Ohio’s puppy mills, and decrease the suffering and death of hundreds of dogs in our state.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
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H.B. 443 would allow local municipalities to ban pet stores from purchasing puppies from puppy mills.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Puppy Mills
ACTION LEVEL: State
Hundreds of municipalities across the country have passed ordinances to ban pet stores from buying puppies from puppy mills. In 2016, when just one city in Ohio (Toledo) passed such a ban, Petland, based in Chillicothe, Ohio, decided this was not acceptable and got the Ohio general assembly to preempt Ohio cities from banning pet stores from buying from puppy mills. Yet, Ohio municipalities need stronger abilities to protect pets throughout the state.
In 2021, HSUS’s Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio had 16 of the nation’s worst puppy mills, making Ohio that year second worst in the nation. In one of the Ohio puppy mills, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) found that dentals were performed by the breeders instead of veterinarians, which resulted in the death of a Yorkshire Terrier.
In 2022, despite multiple attempts by HSUS to receive documents under the state’s public right-to-know law, as of May 4, 2022, ODA had not supplied kennel inspection records. However, the two kennels in Ohio inspected by the USDA did receive official warnings for wet animals left out in the cold, and animal cages with rusty, loose wires.
In 2023, HSUS’s Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio had 13 of the nation’s worst puppy mills, making Ohio that year third worst in the nation. In one of the Ohio puppy mills, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) found one of the breeders performed do-it-yourself euthanasia on five puppies without a veterinarian, and was referred to legal counsel. In another Ohio puppy mill situation, ODA referred the breeder to the state’s legal counsel due to the “egregious nature” of an injured dog with lacerations that were not addressed. A Cavapoo had apparently been in a dangerous predicament for some time without being noticed: “her collar slip[ped] from her neck becoming lodged between her maxilla and mandible. Lacerations along with wound odor were present.” Meanwhile, another breeder threatened to kill a dog in front of the ODA inspector in response to violations.
And now, in 2024, HSUS’s Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio has 20 of the nation’s worst puppy mills, raising Ohio to second worst in the nation again. Many of the Ohio inspection reports show breeders using dirty and non-surgical tools to tail dock puppies – including hoof picks for horses, sheet metal tools, human or animal nail clippers, and swiss army knives – all without anesthesia. ODA claimed in 2022 when they passed regulations allowing the breeders to tail dock that breeders would be using sterile surgical instruments.
These inhumane practices in puppy mills must be stopped, and local municipalities need to have the authority to prevent pet stores from buying dogs from puppy mills – as ODA is not stopping these abusive practices.
Pet store locations across Ohio have multiple problems based on complaints reported to the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Fraud section of the Ohio Attorney General’s office. The Cleveland Plain Dealer published an article on 3/16/24 that summarizes the pet store problems entitled “Petland Stores are selling sick and dying dogs. The state has no plans to stop them.” Ohio H.B. 443 would help solve this inhumane problem.
What You Can Do:
Contact your State Representatives and urge them to support Ohio HB 443 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 ______ ,
Hundreds of municipalities across the country had passed ordinances to ban pet stores from buying puppies from puppy mills. In 2016, when just one city in Ohio (Toledo) passed such a ban, Petland, who is based in Chillicothe, Ohio, decided this was not acceptable and got the Ohio general assembly to preempt Ohio cities from banning pet stores from buying from puppy mills. Ohio municipalities need stronger abilities to protect Ohioans and their pets throughout the state.
HSUS’s 2024 Horrible Hundred Report found that Ohio has 20 of the nation’s worst puppy mills, raising Ohio to be again second worst in the nation. Many of the Ohio inspection reports show breeders using dirty and non-surgical tools to tail dock puppies – including hoof picks for horses, sheet metal tools, human or animal nail clippers, and swiss army knives – all without anesthesia. ODA claimed in 2022 when they passed regulations allowing the breeders to tail dock that breeders would be using sterile surgical instruments.
These inhumane practices in puppy mills must be stopped, and local municipalities need to have the authority to prevent pet stores from buying dogs from puppy mills – as ODA is not stopping these abusive practices.
Pet store locations across Ohio have multiple problems based on complaints reported to the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Fraud section of the Ohio Attorney General’s office. The Cleveland Plain Dealer published an article on 3/16/24 that summarizes the pet store problems entitled “Petland Stores are selling sick and dying dogs. The state has no plans to stop them.” Ohio H.B. 443 would help solve this inhumane problem.
I strongly urge you to support Ohio H.B. 443, which would give local municipalities the ability once again to ban pet stores from buying puppies from puppy mills.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
Support the scanning of deceased animals for microchips by ODOT employees.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Animal Welfare, Ecology
ACTION LEVEL: State
Each year, countless domestic and wild animals are killed on state highways by motor vehicles. Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) road service crew members are tasked with picking up these deceased animals and properly disposing of them.
HB 379 proposes that road crews be equipped with microchip scanners to determine if a deceased cat or dog has a microchip. If so, an established chain of communication would notify the owner that their pet has been found. The owner would be given 24-hours to retrieve the pet.
What You Can Do:
Contact your State Representatives right now and urge them to co-sponsor and support this bill 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 in Ohio to contact their State Representatives about this important bill!
Take Action:
Dear Representative _________:
Every year, Ohioans lose pets due to vehicular accidents on interstate routes, as well as state and federal routes outside of municipalities. ODOT road service crew members are responsible for picking up all wild and domestic animals and disposing of them.
HB 379 would require crew members to scan companion animals for microchips and if found, to contact local authorities who would hold the body for up to 24 hours.
The return of a deceased pet to its distressed owner would be immensely significant in many ways including the ability to choose the final farewell for their beloved pet.
I implore you to support House Bill 379 to ensure the rightful return of companion animals to their owners.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
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
Protect families and their pets from discriminatory landlord policies.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Pet Assistance Resources
ACTION LEVEL: State
Each year, hundreds of Ohioans surrender their pets due to the lack of available housing options that will allow their animals to live with them. Landlords are able to enforce restrictions on what pets are allowed in rental units, and these restrictions significantly decrease the amount of affordable housing options for those with pets. Additionally, Ohio is currently facing a housing crisis characterized by older people wanting to downsize yet not being able to without giving up their pets. Coupled with this, renters are on the rise while there are fewer and fewer homeowners.
Due to this impending housing crisis and the sheer amount of Ohioans that give up their pets every year, state representatives Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, and Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland, proposed the Pet-Friendly Rental Act that would give tax breaks to landlords willing to accept pet-friendly policies. This policy would motivate landlords not to restrict breed or size and would keep them from imposing fees for pets. It would not prevent landlords from turning away potential tenants with pets, but it provides an incentive to accept pets.
As an effort to mitigate Ohio’s housing crisis and allow pet owners to keep their pets, please join OAA in asking your state representatives to support House Bill 277, the Pet-Friendly Rental Act. Your support will allow families to continue living with their pets and make a difference in many Ohioans’ lives.
What You Can Do:
Contact your State Representatives right now and urge them to cosponsor and support 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 in Ohio to contact their State Representatives about these important bills!
Take Action:
Dear Representative ______ ,
Throughout Ohio, hundreds of pets are surrendered to shelters each year. The primary cause of these surrenders is the lack of affordable housing options for those with pets. Landlords are able to reject pets living in their rental units, which often turns away prospective tenants or leads to them giving up their pets.
I implore you to support House Bill 277, the Pet-Friendly Rental Act, to encourage landlords through tax breaks to adopt more accepting pet policies in their rental units. Landlords would maintain their autonomy in deciding if they want to practice pet-friendly policies, yet the monetary incentive of tax breaks aims to provide landlords with greater reason to accept applicants with pets.
I respectfully request that you support the passage of House Bill 277 in order to mitigate the current housing crisis and allow owners and their pets to stay together.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your mailing address
Your email
We need your voice to protect innocent puppies from inhumane treatment in puppy mills.
OAA PROGRAM AREA: Puppy Mills
ACTION LEVEL: State
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has continuously failed to control the abusive puppy mill industry in Ohio and to hold the abusers accountable. Breeders disregard the health of their dogs to keep costs low and maximize their profits. They profit from selling purebred puppies, which frequently carry diseases or have hereditary conditions resulting from inbreeding. According to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), most puppies sold in pet stores and through online retailers are born in puppy mills.
That is why Ohio Animal Advocates is asking our supporters to contact Governor Mike DeWine, the only person who has legal authority over ODA. We need YOU to hold puppy mill breeders accountable for their egregious animal abuse violations.
As advocates working to provide a voice for the voiceless in Ohio, we urge you to ask the Governor to hold ODA accountable. Existing law clearly allows ODA to take strong enforcement action against licensed, high-volume dog breeders who fail to comply with minimum standards of care outlined in the Ohio Revised Code.
Year after year, ODA’s own inspection records provide evidence of bad actors in the mass breeding community causing physical harm to the dogs and puppies under their care. Such behavior is deplorable and a stain on Ohio’s reputation. Despite having one of the strictest high volume breeder laws in the nation, Ohio is home to puppy mills with egregious animal welfare records. Problematic breeders who remain licensed (as of August 2023) include but are not limited to the following:
- Joseph A. Miller – In August 2020, ODA inspectors discovered a Yorkshire terrier died after Miller performed a do-it-yourself dental procedure on the dog.
- Leroy Yoder – In July 2022, a state inspector had to leave in the middle of an inspection after Yoder began yelling and then threatened to kill one of his own dogs when the inspector documented flooring violations.
- Eli J. Miller – During a June 2022 visit to one of Miller’s many kennel locations, state inspectors found an injured cavapoo whose collar had become “lodged between her maxilla and mandible. Lacerations along with wounds and odor are present.”
To spread awareness about the plight of puppy mill dogs, HSUS releases an annual Horrible Hundred report. This report showcases our country’s worst hundred puppy mills that inhumanely treat dogs.
- In 2023, 13 of these reported puppy mills were licensed, high-volume dog breeders operating in the state of Ohio.
- In 2022, ODA did not provide HSUS with the requested information to include in the Horrible Hundred report in a timely manner, so the public was prevented from learning the status of Ohio’s inhumane puppy mills. According to the report, 40% of the Horrible Hundred breeders were repeat offenders.
- In 2021, Ohio had 16 of the nation’s worst puppy mills, with dogs dying from dental procedures performed by breeders.
When the Ohio General Assembly passed the high-volume breeder law (S.B. 130) in 2013 and the upgrades (HB 506) in 2018, they made it clear that licensed breeders in our state were expected to meet specified minimum standards of care. To align with the legislative intent of those bills and the requirements stipulated in the Ohio Revised Code, we expect ODA to use all the tools at its disposal to crack down on puppy mills that threaten the safety of the dogs under their care. It is what Ohioans have called for the last several decades, it is what the legislature has directed ODA to do, and Ohioans intend to keep them accountable.
What You Can Do:
Contact Governor Mike DeWine and urge him to direct ODA to take strong enforcement action against licensed, high-volume dog breeders who fail to comply with minimum standards of care using the sample letter below.
Share this Action Alert on your social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers in Ohio to contact Governor DeWine to hold puppy mill breeders accountable.
Contact Information:
Email addresses: michael.murry@governor.ohio.gov and giles.allen@governor.ohio.gov
Office phone numbers: (614) 466-3555 and (614) 466-2828
Mailing address:
ATTN: Michael Murry
The Honorable Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio
77 S High St 30th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Take Action:
The Honorable Governor Mike DeWine,
As your constituent, I wish to call your attention to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) long-standing failure to control the abusive puppy mill industry in Ohio and to hold the recalcitrant breeders accountable. I respectfully urge you to direct the ODA to utilize all of its statutory authority to address the inhumane conditions at these facilities. Existing law clearly allows ODA to take strong enforcement action against licensed, high-volume dog breeders who fail to comply with minimum standards of care outlined in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). Year after year, ODA’s own inspection records provide evidence of bad actors in the mass breeding community causing physical harm to the dogs and puppies under their care. Such behavior is deplorable and a stain on Ohio’s reputation.
In puppy mills, mother dogs spend their entire lives in cramped cages with little to no personal attention. When the mother and father dogs can no longer breed, they are abandoned or killed. Due to poor sanitation, overbreeding, and a lack of preventive veterinary care, the puppies frequently suffer from a variety of health issues, creating heartbreaking challenges and economic hardship for families who should be enjoying the delights of their new family member.
Unfortunately, Ohio is widely recognized as among the worst states in the country for puppy mill activity. This year, 13 breeders from our state appear in The Humane Society of the United States’ “Horrible Hundred report.” The ODA itself has found breeders keeping dogs and puppies in wire cages without access to solid flooring, failing to keep cages clean from feces and other excrement, and performing DIY surgery or euthanizing dogs without a veterinarian. According to state records, an Ohio breeder even held one of his own dogs in the air and threatened to kill it when an inspector documented flooring violations. In spite of these repeated findings against multiple facilities, little or no action has ever been taken by ODA to address violations of the law by these breeders.
- The ORC grants ODA much more robust authority to hold bad actors accountable. ORC 956.15 (B) allows ODA to “suspend or revoke a license issued under this chapter for violation of any provision of this chapter or a rule adopted or order issued under it if the violation materially threatens the health and welfare of a dog.”
- ORC 956.14 permits the attorney general, upon the request of ODA, to “bring an action for injunction against a person who has violated or is violating this chapter or rules adopted under it.”
- ORC 956.10 (E) says “If entry is refused or inspection or investigation is refused, hindered, or thwarted by a high-volume breeder or dog broker, the director may suspend or revoke the breeder’s or broker’s license in accordance with this chapter.”
But since these laws were put in place in 2018, to my knowledge not a single licensed breeder has faced consequences other than minimal civil fines.
Governor DeWine, I greatly appreciate the leadership you have shown with regard to protecting animals in Ohio, signing into law important bills to strengthen our animal cruelty laws, and requiring the cross-reporting of animal and human violence. I urge you to continue to use your authority to usher in a new era in Ohio that ends the abuses of puppy mills and demonstrates Ohio’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us. I look forward to hearing your response.
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 would 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 push back, 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.