Jodi's Sanctuary

04/05/2026

Did you know that hurting a stray cat in Ohio now carries the same felony charge as hurting someone's pet?

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that cruelty to stray cats and dogs carries the same felony penalty as harming a pet. The 7-0 decision clarified that Ohio's companion animal cruelty law, known as Goddard's Law, protects all cats and dogs — whether they are owned, stray, or living outdoors.

The case began in 2021 when Alonzo Kyles poured bleach on an 8-month-old kitten named Igor in a Cleveland apartment building basement. Kyles was convicted of felony animal cruelty and sentenced to nine months in prison, but an appeals court overturned the conviction, arguing that a stray cat doesn't qualify as a "companion animal." The Ohio Supreme Court reversed that decision, ruling that "any" means all. The Humane Society, Alley Cat Allies, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund all filed briefs supporting the ruling.

The decision means that anyone who intentionally causes serious physical harm to a cat or dog in Ohio — regardless of whether the animal has an owner — can face felony charges. The ruling was issued in October 2024, but the case continues to draw national attention as a landmark in animal protection law.

03/23/2026

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03/16/2026

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03/09/2026

https://c.org/TTctkkRzM4

Allow Humane Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to Manage Community Cats in Swanton, Ohio

03/09/2026

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03/07/2026

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Your birdbath has smooth ceramic sides and deep water. Birds love it. Everything smaller than a robin can't get out of it.

Bees land on the water to drink and can't climb the glazed edge. Chipmunks that slip in can't grip the surface. Butterflies, beetles, and tree frogs that misjudge the rim slide in and have no way to escape.

The problem isn't the water. It's the texture. Smooth wet ceramic creates a surface tension seal that tiny legs can't break. The difference between drowning and escaping is whether there's something rough to grip.

The fix takes thirty seconds.

🌿 The water ramp:

Place a rough flat stone in the birdbath so it breaks the surface — half submerged, half above water. Lava rock is ideal because even wet insect legs can grip the texture

Or lean a rough stick or a piece of broken terra cotta from the rim down into the water at a shallow angle — this gives anything trapped a ramp to climb

For deeper baths, stack two or three stones to create a graduated slope from the bottom to the rim

Scrub the stone weekly — algae makes it slippery and defeats the purpose

Butterflies and bees drink safely and stay longer. Tree frogs use the ramp as a basking spot. Small birds like warblers and kinglets that avoid deep water will wade on the shallow stone instead.

Same birdbath. One rock. Completely different outcome for everything that visits it 🌿

03/07/2026

I haven't shared one of my "RESCUE CAT TALES" in a long time. So here we go. Late last summer I was notified of a kitten who had been seen in the mall parking garage hiding under piles of pallets and trash for weeks. I immediately went and found the area but saw no kitten. Someone told me it was no longer there, but just in case it was I could not give up. I kept going back every night looking and leaving food and water. One night I finally heard a tiny meow and could see the poor baby under the pallets. She was still there! I then began setting a trap nightly, because I work during the day, and checked it every few hours. After many weeks I finally caught her. Of course she was terrified. I had no idea if she was feral or had any human contact but I took her home and put her in a little bedroom to calm down. She climbed up the drapes and trembled up on the curtain rod. I wrapped her in a blanket and calmed her as best I could. You can tell she wanted to trust me and I even heard a soft purr not long after I took her home, but she would still occasionally scratch me and try to bite. Lots of back and forth. After weeks of hiding between the mattress and the wall I was able to touch her. She slowly came around. With each week that went by she began to trust more and more. Either she was a feral born out there or she had been there for so long that she suffered great fear now. She would occasionally scratch me or get a little bite in on my hand and I had the feeling she would not be adoptable because I would never want anyone else to be injured by her and her unpredictability. Fast forward to now. She has become a very affectionate little girl "with me". Once she calmed down to the point where I could take her to the vet (which took months and calming cbd & pheromones), I took her to be spayed and vetted. She is growing and doing so well, and has come so far. But after analyzing her at this point she is still very fearful of other people. She trusts and loves me, so I've made the decision she is probably one that I need to keep. I've been successful at getting all the latest rescues into shelters or loving homes for many years now and have not kept any new cats... but sometimes it is necessary. Also, in the last couple of years I have lost a lot of my rescues from years ago due to old age illnesses, after giving them a lifetime of love and safety. 💔 So maybe it's time. I'm slowly introducing her now to my cats and she seems to want to play with them, so I think she will be just fine. Sometimes there are ones that get so attached to me and remain so fearful of others that they can't go to a rescue or to another stranger. It would be too traumatic for them. It's a very time-consuming thing to gain their trust and make them feel safe. I can't stand to think what could have become of her if I hadn't rescued her. She would have continued to suffer terribly and would probably have been run over by a car or starved to death. Did I want another cat.. no. But it is what it is, and this is what I do...I do what is best for them. I will love her and give her a safe home for life. She will never need to be fearful again, or go hungry. Meet my new kitty! I named her Charlotte and call her Charlie for short. She is one of the lucky ones among so many who are out there and I wish I could save them all.❤️ One at a time.. I rescue them.🐈🐈‍⬛🐱

03/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1LPQYZBXvL/

Quiet Heroes of TNR 🐾

Most people will never see this moment.

A rescuer walking through the cold, the rain, or the snow with a trap in hand, carrying a life that needed help.

Trap Neuter Return is quiet work.
It happens late at night, in empty lots, behind buildings, and in places most people never notice.

There are no cameras.
No applause.
No recognition.

Just someone who cared enough to show up.

Because every rescued cat means fewer kittens born into suffering, fewer hungry nights, and a chance for a safer life.

The world may never know their name…
but the cats did. 🐾

🐾

02/17/2026

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02/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AZTaqTdt1/

The PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act) is now law in the United States, making certain extreme acts of animal cruelty a federal felony for the first time. Acts such as crushing, burning, drowning, or suffocating animals can now result in up to 7 years in federal prison, along with fines.

This law closes a major legal gap and ensures that the most severe forms of animal abuse are treated as serious crimes at the federal level. It marks an important step toward stronger accountability and better protection for animals across the country.

01/24/2026

Just finished checking on all of the homeless cats. Temperatures were below zero last night and single digits today. I took fresh water and food....as well as extra straw to put into their shelters. I worried about them all night. I saw several and each cat I saw was a relief to know they were okay. Now going home to put bird seed and squirrel food in my backyard. Then a warm shower and dry clothes. Ahhhh😌Done....for today anyway. 🥰