The Animal Advocate
Welcome to The Animal Advocate, the podcast for animal lovers who want to become effective animal advocates. Whether you want to start your own nonprofit, inspire your community to adopt more animal-friendly practices, or push for legislative change, this podcast is here to arm you with the knowledge and inspiration you need. With over 20 years of experience in animal law and advocacy, your host, Penny Ellison, is a long-time devoted animal advocate. From teaching Animal Law and Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania Law School to serving on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania SPCA and founding the nonprofit Hand2Paw, Penny's mission is to educate animal lovers like you to advocate for greater protections for animals, to inspire individual action to protect habitat, and help you make ethical choices every day. If you're eager to learn and make a meaningful impact, feeling frustrated by the current political climate, and wondering how to make a difference, let The Animal Advocate be your guide. Join us each episode to learn about topics like what makes a strong or weak animal cruelty law, the different types of animal shelters, environmental practices that impact the lives of wild animals, and practical advice on things to consider before starting an animal rescue. Be sure to check out our website, www.animaladvocacyacademy.com, for more resources on how to be a better animal advocate and to learn more about our online courses. Remember – you don't need any credentials to be an advocate. Anyone can be the positive change you want to see! Compassion is great but compassionate action is infinitely better.
Episodes
Every year, 6.5 million animals enter U.S. shelters while countless puppy ads flood Craigslist and Facebook. What if the solution isn't chasing individual breeders, but regulating the platforms that enable them?
In this episode, we explore a revolutionary three-part regulatory framework that transforms online advertising platforms from passive enabler...
Are our wildlife laws failing animals until it’s too late? In this episode of The Animal Advocate, Penny Ellison reveals how crisis-based conservation puts entire species and ecosystems at risk, discusses staggering declines in birds and biodiversity, and shares how we can flip the script to foster abundance. Discover proven solutions, real-life success stories, and practical steps you can take to help save wildlife—starting locall...
Have you ever wondered what really happens to lions, tigers, and bears after backyard breeders and shady roadside zoos are finally shut down? Who steps in for these animals when the authorities seize them?
In this episode, host Penny Ellison sits down with Bobbi Brink, the founder and director of Lions, Tigers, and Bears Sanctuary—a GFAS-accredited sanctuary that offers rescued wild animals a second chance at a real life. Bobbi pul...
In this episode, host Penny Ellison exposes the $15 billion exotic pet industry and its hidden costs. From 17.6 million exotic animals kept as pets in American homes to over 3,000 roadside zoos offering dangerous wildlife encounters, Penny examines the risks to both animals and humans while exploring the patchwork of laws meant to regulate this massive trade.
In this practical episode, host Penny Ellison speaks with Megan, a dedicated volunteer with 17 years of experience at the Pennsylvania SPCA. They explore how to overcome the intimidation of volunteering at animal shelters and the various ways anyone can make a meaningful difference in shelter animals' lives.
In this thought-provoking episode, host Penny Ellison explores two transformative approaches reshaping animal sheltering: managed intake and community sheltering. Penny examines how shelters are addressing the fundamental challenge of having more animals than available homes.
Episode Highlights:
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00:00 Rethinking Broken Animal Shelter Systems: Understanding why traditional shelter models aren't working and the mathema...
Animal shelter advocate and founder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out Cara Achterberg shares insights from visits to 150+ shelters, discussing rising dog euthanasia rates and approaches used at successful facilities. Hear her perspective on "managed intake" and "community sheltering" concepts, plus practical ways to help homeless pets through fostering, volunteering, and advocacy. Whether you're new to animal advocacy or experienced, d...
Lost your dog? Learn about the critical first 24 hours, legal shelter hold periods, and prevention strategies that reunite families with their pets. Real stories and actionable advice for pet owners.
Lost Dog Recovery: Legal Timelines & Prevention Strategies That Save Lives
Every year, millions of dogs go missing, and the first 24 hours are critical for recovery. In thi...
Welcome back to The Animal Advocate, where we're your go-to resource for turning empathy for animals into tangible advocacy. We’ve been busy behind the scenes creating fresh content, and we're excited to share some changes to our podcast format. Alongside our regular episodes, we'll be bringing you insightful interviews with those on the frontline of animal protection, such as shelter directors and legislative advocates, to inspi...
This episode of focuses on changing the narrative around pit bulls. Host Penny Ellison discusses how pit bulls have become unfairly demonized, similar to how other breeds like German Shepherds and Dobermans were stigmatized in the past. She explains that "pit bull" isn't actually a specific breed but a catch-all term for several breeds and mixes. Pit bulls make up 30-60% of shelter dogs and have longer stays and are much more likel...
Welcome back to "The Animal Advocate," your guide to transforming your compassion for animals into meaningful action. In our latest episode, we examine shelter overpopulation and explore one way to reduce intake: spay and neuter programs. With over 6.5 million animals entering shelters in 2023 alone, many from unplanned litters, we examine whether mandatory spay and neuter laws are the answer or if there's a more effective approach...
In this episode of The Animal Advocate, we dive into animal sheltering. Learn about the different types of shelters - from municipal facilities to private SPCAs to foster-based rescues - and understand their unique roles, challenges, and contributions to animal welfare. We explain how these organizations work together as an ecosystem to serve animals and communities, while addressing...
All 50 states have basic protections for pets like dogs and cats, but the details of these laws can vary widely. That’s why understanding the laws in your state is crucial for becoming an effective animal advocate! In this episode of The Animal Advocate, Penny takes a deep dive into the specifics of state animal cruelty laws. She breaks down what these laws cover, how they differ across states, and the penalties for of...
Welcome to the first episode of The Animal Advocate podcast! Today, your host Penny Ellison breaks down the top 10 areas of animal protection laws at each level of government – federal, state, and local. From understanding exactly what the Animal Welfare Act covers to learning why local ordinances can sometimes be more effective for animal advocates than state laws, you'll gain valuable insights into the legal framewor...
Welcome to The Animal Advocate, the podcast for animal lovers who want to become effective animal advocates. Whether you want to start your own nonprofit, inspire your community to adopt more animal-friendly practices, or push for legislative change, this podcast is here to arm you with the knowledge and inspiration you need.
With over 20 years of experience in animal law and advocacy, your host, Penny Ell...
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