Recently, State Senator Casey Weinstein, sponsor of Senate Bill 232, visited the Humane Society of Summit County to discuss the need for stronger oversight of puppy mills. The event brought together animal welfare advocates, including leaders from grassroots organizations working to improve conditions for dogs across Ohio. But the next phase of this effort will depend on public testimony.

Ohio has long faced scrutiny for its commercial dog breeding industry. According to recent reporting, the state ranks second in the nation for violations at dog breeding facilities, a statistic that continues to raise serious concerns among animal welfare advocates.

In response, State Senator Casey Weinstein has introduced Senate Bill 232, a proposal aimed at strengthening oversight, improving animal care standards, and closing gaps in current law.

Across the United States, thousands of dogs are still suffering in federally licensed commercial breeding facilities, commonly known as puppy mills. Despite being regulated under the Animal Welfare Act, many of these facilities continue to operate with repeated violations, inadequate oversight, and little accountability.

Goldie’s Act (H.R. 349) is a critical piece of federal legislation designed to change that.

Each spring, wildlife advocates across the country recognize Coyote Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to increasing appreciation and understanding of one of North America’s most misunderstood animals.

Observed this year from March 16–22, 2026, Coyote Awareness Week invites communities to replace fear and misinformation with knowledge, compassion, and science-based wildlife stewardship.

Each year, National Pet Vaccination Month serves as a reminder that one of the most powerful tools we have to protect animals is also one of the simplest: prevention.

Vaccines help protect pets from serious and often deadly diseases that still circulate in communities across the United States. By keeping pets up to date on their vaccinations, pet guardians can help safeguard not only their own animals, but also the broader pet population.

A group of cats living outside the Landrum Academic Center at Northern Kentucky University has recently become the center of an unexpected campus debate—one that highlights broader questions about how communities manage free-roaming cats.

For several years, students at NKU have been caring for a small group of cats that appeared near the building. What began with simple acts of kindness—leaving out food and water for an orange tabby named Morris—gradually evolved into a more organized effort to support the animals.

At Ohio Animal Advocates, we often talk about laws, policies, and programs that protect animals. But one of the most powerful tools for improving animal welfare starts much earlier: education.

Helping children develop empathy toward animals can shape the way they interact with the world for the rest of their lives. That’s where Kind News™, a humane education magazine published by RedRover, comes in.

Earlier this month, Ohio Animal Advocates published an article exploring why low-cost spay and neuter appointments are so difficult to find. As Dr. Michelle “Dr. G” Gonzalez of the Rascal Unit explained, the problem isn’t a lack of effort by clinics. It’s that demand far exceeds the number of clinics, veterinarians, and technicians available to perform these surgeries safely.

The scale of the challenge means no single solution will fix it.

But organizations across Ohio are working on pieces of the puzzle.

To continue the conversation, we spoke with representatives from the Ohio Pet Fund, a statewide program focused on expanding access to spay and neuter services.

In December 2025, a tragic crash in Amherst, Ohio changed multiple lives in an instant.

Jessica Paige, 65, was walking near her home with her dog Ishe when police say a driver traveling the wrong way while impaired struck them. Paige suffered catastrophic injuries including a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, and extensive trauma. Ishe, her beloved companion, was killed at the scene.

Paige has remained hospitalized since the incident and continues to undergo treatment and recovery.

At Ohio Animal Advocates, our board members bring diverse experiences, deep compassion, and a shared commitment to building a more humane Ohio. Today, we’re excited to spotlight Katie Krafka, Secretary of the OAA Board and a member of our Community Engagement Committee.

Every year on World Spay Day, we pause to recognize a simple truth:

• Too many animals are born without homes waiting for them.

• Too many shelters are beyond capacity.

• Too many healthy, adoptable pets never get the chance they deserve.

But here’s the part that matters most, this is a problem we know how to solve.

A groundbreaking new study published in the journal Science offers compelling evidence that a nonhuman primate can mentally represent objects that are not physically present.

The article, titled “Evidence for representation of pretend objects by Kanzi, a language-trained bonobo,” was authored by Amalia P. M. Bastos and Christopher Krupenye and recently highlighted in the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy Animal Law Digest.