September 2025
As summer gives way to the crisp days of fall, it’s a natural time to pause, reflect, and look ahead. |
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At Ohio Fed, we’re embracing this season of change by working on a new strategic plan that will guide our efforts to strengthen animal welfare across the state. Together with our members, we’re laying the foundation for a future where our collective voice and collaboration continue to make a lasting impact for animals and the people who care for them.
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Veterinary Telehealth Bill signed by Governor before legislature broke for the summer.
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SB 60, the Veterinary Telehealth Bill, was signed by Governor DeWine on June 30 as part of the budget bill and the new law will take effect on September 28, 2025.
The bill was introduced to allow, but not require, Ohio-licensed veterinarians to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) using real-time, virtual methods, rather than the in-person meeting currently required by Ohio law, and to permit subsequent follow-up care via telehealth. This is just like the approach used in human medicine. With its passage, animal shelters without on-staff veterinarians, which include many of our members, will now have improved access to veterinary care for the animals they serve.
We sincerely thank Senators Wilken and Huffman for sponsoring the bill; the Animal Policy Group (APG), which is the national advocacy organization that has been introducing “access to care” legislation in states across the country; the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association; and Humane World for Animals.
We also thank two Ohio Fed members for their roles in advancing this critical legislation: the Cleveland Animal Protective League, who worked closely with APG and collaborated with stakeholders to ensure the issue remained a priority for decision-makers, and Columbus Humane, whose Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Laura Advent, provided proponent testimony in both legislative sessions on behalf of Ohio Fed.
To read the full text of the bill, click here. |
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Key Highlights of the New Law:
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While other bills took a back seat to the budget bill prior to summer break, work has continued on SB 64 (Sen A. Cutrona), which seeks to increase penalties for companion animal cruelty offenses, and HB 247 (Rep. K. Miller), which seeks to revise dog law pertaining to dangerous and vicious dogs. HB 247 passed out of the House in June and has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Member Benefit: If members would like to receive legislative updates as they happen, please email ohiofedhs@gmail.com and ask to be added to the list for advocacy alerts.
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COLLECTIVE THINKING: THE OHIO FED MEMBER FORUM
Collective Thinking: The Ohio Fed Member Forum is a dedicated time for our members to connect online, share insights, exchange ideas and collaborate on the issues that matter the most.
In July we continued a discussion that started at the Leadership Summit on collaborations and partnerships. We talked about new ways Ohio Fed could help members collaborate. Several members shared examples of how they are working with the shelters and rescues in their area to support each other. The consensus of the group was that developing successful collaborations takes time and consistency. You need to reach out often just to touch base so that those important connections are in place BEFORE you need them. It was a great discussion! Sorry you missed it?
Good news! On October 14 at Noon we are hosting another forum on fundraising. This was another popular topic at the Summit, so let's keep sharing ideas! Come ready to share your best fundraising strategies and learn some new ideas from other Ohio Fed members.
There is no formal program or registration fee to participate in the member forum, but please register to receive the Zoom link (members only please).
Member Benefit: This forum is only available to current members of the Ohio Animal Welfare Federation. |
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HELP WITH CONFERENCE FEES
In an effort to support our members with their continuing education needs, Ohio Fed is offering to cover up to $250 of the registration fee to a conference or training of your choice (program must be sponsored by an organization other than Ohio Fed). Use this form to tell us about the conference you want to attend, and how attending will help you help animals in Ohio. We will select ONE person to support PER conference, until our scholarship budget is depleted for the year. If chosen you will be asked to share something you learned from the conference in the next issue of our Quarterly e-News!
Member Benefit: Only current members of the Ohio Animal Welfare Federation may apply.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
The following shelters and organizations joined Ohio Fed during the third quarter of 2025: |
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- Crows Hollow Wildlife Care
- Mahoning County Dog Warden
- Multiple Breed Rescue
- Muskingum County Humane Society
- Nikki & Nigel’s Hospice Rescue Animal Haven
- Ohio Pet Fund
- Rescued Rollers
- Richland County Dog Warden
- Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
Click here for a list of all organizational members. |
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE FED
Do you have news to share? Click here to submit your news for the next issue.
- Licking County Humane Society Executive Director Lori Carlson has announced that she will be retiring in December. Lori is a long-time member and past president of the Ohio Animal Welfare Federation's Board of Directors. She was president in 2018 when Ohio Fed hired it's first executive director; updated its bylaws to open membership beyond humane societies; and changed its name to reflect its new, expanded mission. Lori has been instrumental in creating the Ohio Fed you all know today, and we are forever grateful for her service and friendship.
- Toledo Animal Rescue is celebrating the success of its Pet Food Pantry, which officially opened in March 2024 (after operating "unofficially" for a year or so before that). The pantry is one of three in the Toledo area, and the only one that is open 7 days a week. As of mid August 2025, they have have had more than 250 visits and fed more than 400 dogs and 300 cats by distributing more than 6,400 pounds of dog food and 1,100 pounds of cat food. Way to go!
- As mentioned in the intro, the Ohio Fed Board of Directors is working on our next strategic plan, building off of the successes of the last 4-year plan. We look forward to sharing the plan with our members at our annual meeting in early 2026.
- The Ohio Pet Fund has extended the 2025 applications for spay-neuter grants until October 31. See the application and eligibility requirements at ohiopetfund.org (in the blue section) for programs for community pets belonging to low income owners or disabled veterans. Organizations that are applying for spay-neuter of dogs/cats adopted from their organization and that have applied in the past may email ohiopetfund2@gmail.com to request an application that can be filled out online or to submit any questions. The Ohio Pet Fund was established in 2000 and receives much of its funding from sales of the pet friendly license plates. The board is currently working on ways to expand license plate options and spay-neuter funding sources through legislation.
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Ohio Fed Board Member Robert Craft, director of the Miami County Animal Shelter, and his team are excited about the plans for their new shelter, designed by Shelter Planners of America. Good luck with your fundraising! |
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Ohio Fed Executive Director Colleen Evans (right) recently caught up with former board member Julie Holmes-Taylor at Greene County Animal Control. |
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Other upcoming programs (details and registration coming soon):
October 16, 2025 - From Suspect to Defendant: Identifying WHO November 6, 2025 - Onboarding Made Easier (free for Ohio Fed members)
Member Benefit: Ohio Fed members receive discounted registration fees on all of our educational programs. |
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THANK YOU!
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We wish to thank Petco Love for their continued sponsorship of our webinar program!
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Shelter Animals Count recently released their 2025 Mid-Year Report. The report is built from the data contributed by organizations across the country and presents a clear look at national trends in intake, adoptions, and outcomes. From species-specific patterns to expanded lost and found data and breakdowns by organization type, this report helps us better understand what’s happening in shelters right now—and what is forecasted for the rest of the year.
Highlights include:
- 2.8 million animals entered shelters and rescues — down 4% from the same period in 2024.
- Adoptions decreased slightly, with nearly 1.9 million animals adopted in the first half of 2025—down 1% from the prior year.
- Non-live outcomes dropped by 5% for dogs, but cat-related non-live outcomes increased slightly, especially among vulnerable kitten populations.
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OHIO SNAPSHOT: JANUARY TO JUNE 2025
430 organizations in Ohio are included in the data below
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68,000 community intakes (no transfers included)
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68,000 community live outcomes (live outcomes that are not transfers)
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7,500 non-live outcomes
Comparing year-over-year (2025 vs. 2024):
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Ohio currently has a Population Balance (PBC) of 89% for cats and 100% for dogs, meaning that 11% of cats entering organizations have yet to have an outcome and populations are increasing. This is similar to what we see mid-year due to kitten season. National PBC is 90% for cats and 99% for dogs.
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Adoption rates (adoptions as a percentage of total intakes) are higher in Ohio than nationally at 64% for dogs (up from 62% in 2024) and 69% for cats (same as 2024). National adoption rates were 56% for dogs and 56% for cats.
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Non-live outcome rates (non-live outcomes as a percentage of total intakes) are increasing for both dogs (9% in 2024 to 10% in 2025) and cats (7% in 2024 to 8% in 2025) and remain lower than national rates. Nationally, non-live outcome rates were 11% for dogs and 11% for cats.
The information contained herein was derived from data supplied by Shelter Animals Count. Shelter Animals Count specifically disclaims all responsibility for any analysis, interpretations, conclusions and opinions contained in or derived from the information presented. |
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