A tiny kitten rescued from a piece of construction equipment in Northeast Ohio has found a home and a place on the crew. The kitten was discovered in July when Chase Guello, an operating supervisor with RiverReach Construction, heard cries coming from an excavator while checking the equipment. After removing the skid plates underneath the machine, the crew was able to safely free her.

For many people, pets are family and their needs can influence decisions about housing, finances and even health care. A recent Perspective published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “Human–Animal Bonds as Social Determinants of Health Care Access,” explores how responsibilities to pets can affect whether and how people seek medical care.

Ohio Animal Advocates is powered by people who care deeply about improving the lives of animals across Ohio. We sat down with OAA Board Member Niki Johnson, whose background in animal rescue gives her firsthand insight into both the emotional and operational sides of animal welfare. From transporting and fostering dogs to helping start RESCUEDohio, Niki has spent years seeing what it takes to help animals in need and why preventing that need in the first place is so important.

Animal Charity of Ohio has suspended its humane investigations and animal intakes, citing financial and capacity challenges that organization leaders say have made it impossible to continue the services for now. The organization had already suspended animal control services in June, but continued conducting humane investigations and accepting animals from abuse and neglect cases.

For people experiencing homelessness, entering a shelter or housing program can sometimes mean facing an impossible decision: accept services or stay with a beloved pet. A fellowship opportunity from My Dog Is My Home is helping organizations build a different model.

Ohio ranks among the states with the highest number of reported cases involving both animal cruelty and other forms of violence, according to a new analysis from the National Link Coalition. The August 2026 LINK-Letter from the National Link Coalition reviewed 1,066 U.S. news reports involving animal cruelty alongside crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse, homicide and other offenses.

Ohio Animal Advocates is excited to introduce Scott Mills, Chief Dog Warden and Humane Agent for Marion County in Ohio and a member of the OAA Board of Directors. Scott has spent more than a decade working directly in animal welfare and brings firsthand experience in humane enforcement, animal cruelty investigations, community resources and legislation to OAA.

Animal Charity of Ohio has suspended its humane investigations and animal intakes, citing financial and capacity challenges that organization leaders say have made it impossible to continue the services for now. The organization had already suspended animal control services in June, but continued conducting humane investigations and accepting animals from abuse and neglect cases.

Earlier this month, Ohio Animal Advocates reported on changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) affecting how the agency handles housing complaints involving emotional support animals (ESAs). While federal enforcement priorities have changed, the Fair Housing Act has not, and Ohio renters also have state-level protections.

This month, Ohio Animal Advocates is highlighting a book that is perfect to acknowledge Wellness Month which is observed every August. Wellness is important for all creatures, and author Temple Grandin delves into this and more in Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals. This book is written for high school/college readers and older as it deals with more complex and potentially heavy topics.

Ohio Animal Advocates recently submitted a letter of support for our partner, YWCA of Northwest Ohio, and its application for FY2026 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding. The YWCA of Northwest Ohio provides critical services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including outreach, safety support, emergency shelter, and assistance for survivors with pets.

Ohio’s dog-bite statute, R.C. 955.28(B), imposes strict liability on the “owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog” for any injury to a person or property caused by the dog. This means that owners, keepers, and harborers can be held responsible for injuries caused by a dog, regardless of whether they intended or could have foreseen the injury.