In December 2024, the death of a fur farmer in Ashtabula County, Ohio, exposed a horrific animal welfare crisis at an unregulated fur and urine farm. Over 400 wild animals, including foxes, coyotes, and skunks, were found trapped in inhumane conditions, bred for fur and bodily waste, with no government oversight due to Ohio's inadequate laws.

With the 119th Congress underway and Donald Trump reentering the White House, AWI staff are hard at work advancing protections for animals within the United States and abroad.

As we establish our legislative, administrative, and legal priorities for the year ahead, we invite you to join us on Thursday, February 6, at 1 p.m. ET for a webinar to help set the stage for 2025 and beyond. During our hour together, AWI program staff will provide an overview of five key animal welfare laws in the United States, discuss our goals for the year, and outline how you can get involved, too.

The Battered Women’s Shelter (BWS) of Summit and Medina counties have achieved something incredible: housing for survivors of domestic violence that allows their companion animals! Recently awarded the Office for Victims of Crime Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter Shelter and Housing Grant, BWS is looking to add the Hope and Healing Pet Shelter to help house family companion animals in close proximity to their 40,000 square foot building with the ability to board 154 survivors of domestic violence. 

After decades of advocacy and a hard-fought legal battle, 23 chimpanzees owned by the U.S. government will finally retire to the lush sanctuary of Chimp Haven. These chimpanzees, who endured years of painful biomedical experiments, will now experience the freedom and care they deserve.

Ohio Animal Advocates is proud to highlight an incredible milestone for The Cocoon—a new outdoor Dog Run that enhances their emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their pets. This vital addition reflects The Cocoon’s dedication to providing trauma-informed, safe spaces where survivors can begin their healing journey without being separated from their beloved companion animals.

Every year, thousands of animals—including dogs and monkeys—are used in research laboratories. In 2024 alone, countless animals endured lives of confinement and experiments, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Ohio Animal Advocates stands alongside other leading agencies, including the National Anti-Vivisection Society and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, in our fundamental belief that the future of science is humane. By promoting innovative alternatives to animal testing, we are paving the way for research methods that are not only more ethical but also more effective.