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.

We’re grateful to the Ohio Animal Foundation for highlighting an issue that urgently needs public attention: Ohio Senate Bill 232, legislation that would strengthen oversight and improve conditions for dogs in commercial breeding facilities.

In a recent OAF article, our Executive Director and co-founder, Vicki Deisner, shared why S.B. 232 is a critical step forward for animal protection in Ohio.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio recently drew a hard line in United States v. Dryden—refusing to accept a plea agreement the Court believed did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct and would improperly limit the judge’s ability to sentence appropriately.

BRUNSWICK, Maine, Feb. 2, 2026 — Sushi the lynx-point Siamese kitten was only four months old when she became pregnant last summer, living in the home of a cat breeder who was ultimately charged with animal cruelty in Riverton, Utah. Sushi, still a kitten herself, had a litter of seven babies when she was six months old, and six survived. Sushi was one of nearly 90 cats and kittens rescued from deplorable conditions. Nearly every female cat over four months of age was pregnant or had young kittens. Few people know that kittens can get pregnant and give birth when they themselves are still kittens.

When someone is facing eviction, domestic violence, hospitalization, or another crisis, one of the hardest fears is:

“What will happen to my pets?”

For many people, pets are not just animals — they are family. They are emotional anchors during already traumatic times. That’s why it’s so important to understand the difference between temporary safe housing and surrender for adoption before signing any paperwork.

Love is in the air — and so are the howls.

Late winter marks mating season for coyotes, wolves, and foxes across North America. While Valentine’s Day often focuses on roses and chocolates, the natural world reminds us that devotion, partnership, and family bonds aren’t just human traditions — they’re beautifully wild.

This year, you can celebrate love in a way that also protects it.

Ohio Animal Advocates (OAA) is proud to partner with Project Coyote to share a meaningful Valentine’s opportunity that supports compassionate coexistence with wildlife.