Stop the Suffering
Lynne Aronson
June 16, 2025
Stop the Suffering: Giving a Second Chance to the Forgotten
For four decades, PDS Planning has committed itself to more than financial guidance; we have always believed deeply in making meaningful contributions to our community. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, this commitment shines through a special charitable initiative focused on community, compassion, and connection.
40th Anniversary Charitable Initiative
As part of this milestone, we’re excited to spotlight three remarkable nonprofits selected by our team, each deeply aligned with causes we passionately support. Through your votes, one of these organizations will receive a $10,000 donation, while each runner-up will receive $1,000.
This month, we’re proud to highlight Stop the Suffering Animal Rescue, a Columbus-based, volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to rescuing at-risk dogs and cats from high-kill shelters and unsafe environments, providing them with medical care, transport, and a second chance at life through adoption and advocacy.
Founded on Compassion
Since 2002, Stop the Suffering (STS) has been on a mission to rescue the animals that many others overlooked. What began as a grassroots transport initiative to move at-risk dogs and cats out of rural Ohio shelters has transformed into a lifeline for thousands of animals and a beacon of hope for the communities it serves.
At the heart of STS is Lynne Aronson, who co-founded the organization after witnessing the staggering euthanasia rates in Ohio’s rural shelters. In the early 2000s, 97% of animals in shelters like Licking, Lawrence, and Perry Counties faced certain death. Lynne, juggling a full-time job and family, felt compelled to act. What started as a single transport trip with a couple of dogs quickly escalated. Within a year, over 2,000 animals had been relocated to rescue groups in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and even Canada.
“We had no resources, no Facebook, barely functioning computers… just passion and email threads,” Lynne recalled. “But we couldn’t look away.”
A Growing Mission
In its early years, Stop the Suffering operated on sheer determination. Volunteers used personal vacation days to drive rescue transports. Sick and injured animals were nursed back to health through donations gathered from community mailing lists. But as the need grew, so did STS’s resolve. A pivotal partnership with Community Shares of Mid Ohio in 2008 helped the group formalize its nonprofit operations, laying a stronger foundation for long-term sustainability.
Today, STS is a robust volunteer-run organization with a dual mission that includes both rescue and prevention. They transport and rehome nearly 4,000 dogs and cats annually and have dramatically expanded their adoption and foster care programs, now facilitating over 500 adoptions each year.
Solving the Problem
While STS continues its lifesaving transport operations, the organization is increasingly focused on prevention and, what Lynne believes, is tackling the issue at its source through spay and neuter initiatives. The Haley’s Comet program, named in memory of a rescued Great Pyrenees who died due to complications from overbreeding, provides funding for sterilization surgeries in severely underserved communities, where access to veterinary care is scarce.
This work is more than logistics; it’s systemic change. By funding thousands of spay and neuter procedures annually, STS reduces shelter intake and prevents suffering before it begins.
Supporting Stop the Suffering
Stop the Suffering depends on an army of compassionate volunteers. “We need everything—foster homes, long-distance drivers, local relief fosters for summer travel,” Lynne shared. The organization prides itself on supporting volunteers every step of the way, from training to emotional support, especially for those taking in dogs from challenging backgrounds like puppy mills. “This work is hard. Still, we won’t stop. We can’t. These animals depend on us.”
Vote Now and Make a Difference!
Between now and October 31st, PDS Planning invites clients, friends, and our extended community to participate actively. Cast your vote daily for the charity you’d most like to support. Your involvement is a simple yet impactful way to help nonprofits like Stop the Suffering continue their invaluable work.
A $10,000 donation through the PDS Planning 40th Anniversary campaign would help STS continue their critical operations by funding medical care, transport logistics, and expanding their spay and neuter outreach. “It’s not just about saving one dog,” Lynne emphasized. “It’s about breaking the cycle of neglect and overpopulation.”
We invite you to learn more about Stop the Suffering and volunteer opportunities by visiting stopthesuffering.org.
Remember, every vote, every day, helps make a substantial difference.
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