Brewery District resident, Vicki Deisner, has dedicated her life work to animal and environmental causes. Upon graduation from law school she joined the nonprofit world as a leader for action on environmental issues and animal wellbeing.
In 2018, she created Ohio Animal Advocates "OAA", a 501(c)3, whose mission is to help animals be free of cruelty, abuse and neglect.
Following is information about how OAA advocates for animals, numerous resources, ways to volunteer and how you can donate.
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An article in Cleveland.com about the passage of Ohio House Bill 33 supported by OAA.
Ohio recognized for leadership to help break “The Link” between animal cruelty and child, spouse, and elder abuse
A new report ranks Ohio 24th in the nation for the strength of its animal laws - up from 30th a year ago. In its annual ranking of state animal protection laws, the Animal Legal Defense Fund recognized the Buckeye State for its leadership in the passage of a comprehensive “cross-reporting” law to require the reporting of suspected child or elder abuse and cruelty to a companion animal, such as a dog or cat, by social workers, veterinarians and other professionals.
The new law (Ohio House Bill 33, effective April 12, 2021):
- requires animal control officers and dog wardens to immediately report child abuse to a public children services agency or peace officer;
- requires veterinarians, social service workers, and other professionals to report suspected cruelty of companion animals to a law enforcement officer, humane society agent, or animal
control professional; and
- requires law enforcement officers or animal control professionals to report abuse of a companion animal to an appropriate social service professional when they suspect the abuse
may impact a child or older adult in the home.
Ohio is one of only a few states that requires this cross-reporting of suspected animal cruelty by social workers - a requirement which historically has been rare. Such laws explicitly permit or require cross-reporting between various animal and humane welfare organizations, often providing civil immunity for reporting.
The intent of the law is to help break the recognized link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence, particularly domestic abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse.
“Animal cruelty is often the first sign of escalating violence in a domestic violence situation. It’s absolutely vital that frontline workers, who are most likely to witness animal cruelty - such as
veterinarians and social workers - are not only empowered, but required to report animal cruelty,” said State Representative Laura Lanese (R-Grove City), who wrote and championed
the passage of the Ohio law. “We heard from many of these frontline workers who appreciated the opportunity to report these abuses and protect the lives in their care.”
“It was critical Ohio take the step of mandating frontline workers report animal cruelty - for the sake of animal and family victims,” said State Representative Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton), the law’s primary co-sponsor.
“Animal victims cannot speak for themselves, so it was absolutely necessary for Ohio Animal Advocates to not only advocate for the passage of this law, but also partner with Animal Welfare Institute and the National Link Coalition to provide training on the link between animal and human violence to all the frontline workers who witness animal cruelty,” said Vicki Deisner, Executive Director of Ohio Animal Advocates, a statewide non-profit organization which advocates for the humane treatment of animals.
For more information:
U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report - source: Animal Legal Defense Fund
Summary of Ohio House Bill 33 -source: Ohio Legislative Service Commission
Ohio Animal Advocates
A new report ranks Ohio 24th in the nation for the strength of its animal laws - up from 30th a year ago. In its annual ranking of state animal protection laws, the Animal Legal Defense Fund recognized the Buckeye State for its leadership in the passage of a comprehensive “cross-reporting” law to require the reporting of suspected child or elder abuse and cruelty to a companion animal, such as a dog or cat, by social workers, veterinarians and other professionals.
The new law (Ohio House Bill 33, effective April 12, 2021):
- requires animal control officers and dog wardens to immediately report child abuse to a public children services agency or peace officer;
- requires veterinarians, social service workers, and other professionals to report suspected cruelty of companion animals to a law enforcement officer, humane society agent, or animal
control professional; and
- requires law enforcement officers or animal control professionals to report abuse of a companion animal to an appropriate social service professional when they suspect the abuse
may impact a child or older adult in the home.
Ohio is one of only a few states that requires this cross-reporting of suspected animal cruelty by social workers - a requirement which historically has been rare. Such laws explicitly permit or require cross-reporting between various animal and humane welfare organizations, often providing civil immunity for reporting.
The intent of the law is to help break the recognized link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence, particularly domestic abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse.
“Animal cruelty is often the first sign of escalating violence in a domestic violence situation. It’s absolutely vital that frontline workers, who are most likely to witness animal cruelty - such as
veterinarians and social workers - are not only empowered, but required to report animal cruelty,” said State Representative Laura Lanese (R-Grove City), who wrote and championed
the passage of the Ohio law. “We heard from many of these frontline workers who appreciated the opportunity to report these abuses and protect the lives in their care.”
“It was critical Ohio take the step of mandating frontline workers report animal cruelty - for the sake of animal and family victims,” said State Representative Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton), the law’s primary co-sponsor.
“Animal victims cannot speak for themselves, so it was absolutely necessary for Ohio Animal Advocates to not only advocate for the passage of this law, but also partner with Animal Welfare Institute and the National Link Coalition to provide training on the link between animal and human violence to all the frontline workers who witness animal cruelty,” said Vicki Deisner, Executive Director of Ohio Animal Advocates, a statewide non-profit organization which advocates for the humane treatment of animals.
For more information:
U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report - source: Animal Legal Defense Fund
Summary of Ohio House Bill 33 -source: Ohio Legislative Service Commission
Ohio Animal Advocates
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Vicki's dog Bo, a Bichon, that she rescued.