Buy a specialty plate, help animals

SANDUSKY — Want to support animals in Ohio and show your love for your pet? If so, there's an easy way to do that. Ohio sells specialty license plates that support the Ohio Pet Fund, which funds spaying and neutering grants that support animal shelters and pet-friendly nonprofits across the state, including the Sandusky area. "It's a fun and easy way to label your car as a pet-friendly mobile," said Melissa Gundlach, executive director of the Humane Society of Erie County. "It's a great program." Gundlach said she has one of the specialty plates herself, and so does the president of her board, Jenine Porter. Porter, a real estate professional, has a photo of her three cats on the humane society website, all of them rescue animals. The humane society previously received a $5,000 grant and has applied for another grant, Gundlach said. The website for the Ohio Pet Fund, ohiopetfund.org, also shows 2025 grants for the Erie County Dog Warden ($2,500), two grants for the Humane Society of Ottawa County ($5,000), two grants for the Sandusky County Dog Warden ($5,000) and a $1,500 grant for the Humane Society of Sandusky County. The Ohio Pet Fund awarded more than $800,000 in grants in 2025. Ohio offers four designs for the Ohio Pet Fund plates, giving drivers a chance to tell the world they are pet-friendly, cat-friendly or dog-friendly. Pet license plates are available for $25, even if it's not time to renew, from the local registrar's office or from oplates.com. Information on the Ohio Pet Fund's finances and its all-volunteer board is available at the group's website. The group is also on Facebook at facebook.com/OhioPetFund.