Southwestern Ohio Animal Rights Network

07/29/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to this year's Ohio Occurrence . We had more sign-ups than ever before. We hope to see even more next year!

07/20/2026

06/25/2026

Join us for our summer social!

Sun, Fun, Food, and Friends 😎

Bring a vegan dish to share if you want, or just come as you are!

06/24/2026

Last year, scientists published the first study of its kind to quantify the intensity of pain and suffering experienced by fish during air asphyxiation (suffocation), one of the most common methods used to kill more than a trillion fishes annually: awfw.org/oceans

The research indicated that fish endure 2 to 25 minutes of “moderate to excruciating” pain when removed from water, with an average of 10 minutes of “severe suffering” before loss of consciousness. Neurochemical responses "identical" to those exhibited by humans during intense pain are observed in fish within merely five seconds of air exposure.

Writers at Science explain: “Here's what actually happens when fish are pulled from water: their delicate gills collapse and stick together, preventing oxygen exchange. Carbon dioxide from respiration builds up rapidly, triggering the body's alarm system and causing frantic gasping. The rising CO2 levels acidify their blood and spinal fluid, eventually leading to unconsciousness.⁠
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Fish aren't just reacting on instinct—they possess nociceptors, the same specialized pain receptors found in humans. Brain imaging shows these signals activate areas responsible for conscious experience, not just reflexes.”

They also note that the method of allowing fish to asphyxiate on ice, used in many restaurants, markets, and commercial fishing vessels, “might be even worse, slowing metabolism and prolonging consciousness while fish slowly suffocate.⁠”

Learn more about how our food choices impact fishes, other animals, and our oceans with our Oceans resource.

04/29/2026

Please join us for our AV United Cube, where activists from all over the region join to have a massive Cube.

https://facebook.com/events/s/av-united-columbus-oh-may-2nd-/876719792083807/