The Animal Advocate Podcast
Inspiration and tools to help you become a confident, effective voice for animals
Whether you want to launch your own nonprofit, create change in your community, or influence statewide policy and legislation, this podcast gives you the knowledge, strategies, and real-world stories to turn passion into action.
Hosted by Penny Ellison, an attorney and law professor who has trained hundreds of students in animal advocacy
Philadelphia Bans Carriage Horses. Will New York?
Philadelphia Bans Carriage Horses. Will New York?
Philadelphia banned horse-drawn carriages. New York, where a teen just died in one, still won’t. The inside story of how one city got it done.
The Win Column: 7 Recent Wins for Animals from Arkansas to Texas
The Win Column: 7 Recent Wins for Animals from Arkansas to Texas
Seven recent wins for animals, most of them at the local level, and one idea behind them you can bring home to your own town.
Outside Dogs and the Law: How Support Keeps Dogs Out of Shelters
Outside Dogs and the Law: How Support Keeps Dogs Out of Shelters
An interview with Underdogs of Philly on supporting owners of dogs kept mostly outdoors
and keeping dogs out of shelters.
and keeping dogs out of shelters.
Why Animal Advocates Need a 501(c)(4): Allie Taylor of Voters for Animal Rights
Why Animal Advocates Need a 501(c)(4): Allie Taylor of Voters for Animal Rights
A mediator’s view of one of the most contentious debates in animal welfare: should rescues import dogs when local shelters are already full?
Should Rescues Import Dogs When Local Shelters Are Full?
Should Rescues Import Dogs When Local Shelters Are Full?
A mediator’s view of one of the most contentious debates in animal welfare: should rescues import dogs when local shelters are already full?
Designer Dogs, Shelter Dogs, and the Small Shift That Would Save Lives
Designer Dogs, Shelter Dogs, and the Small Shift That Would Save Lives
A shift of just 1 in 6 dog buyers becoming adopters would end shelter killing for space. It’s not a shelter problem. It’s how we choose.
How to Fund Spay/Neuter Programs: Lessons from States That Got It Done
How to Fund Spay/Neuter Programs: Lessons from States That Got It Done
Five states have found a way to fund free spay/neuter programs. Here’s what they did and how to bring it to your state.
Are Humans Inherently Superior to Other Animals? The Question at the Root of Animal Advocacy
Are Humans Inherently Superior to Other Animals? The Question at the Root of Animal Advocacy
We’ve always assumed humans are in a category of their own. But are they?
Can a Law Make Shelters Go No Kill?
Can a Law Make Shelters Go No Kill?
A no-kill law sounds like the answer. It’s more complicated than that.
Animal Control Funding: Why Shelters Walk Away from City Contracts
Animal Control Funding: Why Shelters Walk Away from City Contracts
Here’s why nonprofits holding animal control contracts keep getting burned — and what it would take to fix it.
How Philadelphia Passed a Breeding Moratorium 15-0: A Framework for Animal Advocates
How Philadelphia Passed a Breeding Moratorium 15-0: A Framework for Animal Advocates
Fifteen to zero — here’s the framework that made it happen.
From Protest to Policy: Ending Horse-Drawn Carriages in Philadelphia
From Protest to Policy: Ending Horse-Drawn Carriages in Philadelphia
One animal lover’s nine-year fight to end horse-drawn carriages in Philadelphia — and the advocacy lessons in how she did it.
Why Public Opinion Is the Most Underrated Tool in Animal Advocacy
Why Public Opinion Is the Most Underrated Tool in Animal Advocacy
Before you can pass a law, you have to change the conversation.
How Animal Protection Laws Really Get Passed: Lessons from Texas
How Animal Protection Laws Really Get Passed: Lessons from Texas
How to prioritize, partner, and persevere to pass animal protection laws.
How to Help Animal Shelters on Social Media: Do’s and Don’ts from Shelter Staff
How to Help Animal Shelters on Social Media: Do’s and Don’ts from Shelter Staff
Used strategically, social media can support shelter outcomes instead of draining staff time. This episode explains how
Beyond Dog Walking: How to Help Animal Shelters in Ways They Actually Need
Beyond Dog Walking: How to Help Animal Shelters in Ways They Actually Need
Shelters need help you can give without training, orientations, or a set schedule – if you know what to offer.
Why French Bulldogs Can’t Breathe: The Truth About Breeding for Looks
Why French Bulldogs Can’t Breathe: The Truth About Breeding for Looks
America’s most popular dog breed struggles to breathe, reproduce, and give birth—and we bred them that way because we liked how it looked.
What Animal Advocates Can Learn from the World of Wine
What Animal Advocates Can Learn from the World of Wine
A year-end reflection on persuasion, context, and the long arc of change, seen through the lens of the wine world.
Free Adoptions: Do Fees Really Protect Animals?
Free Adoptions: Do Fees Really Protect Animals?
Are free adoption fees helping animals find homes — and what does the evidence really show?
Her Name Is Tangi: Why Housing Policy Is Animal Welfare Policy
Her Name Is Tangi: Why Housing Policy Is Animal Welfare Policy
A cardboard box left at a shelter door. A handwritten note. And a question for all of us: will you help?
When Cruelty Laws Collide With Inaccessible Vet Care: What Advocates Can Do
When Cruelty Laws Collide With Inaccessible Vet Care: What Advocates Can Do
What happens when cruelty laws require veterinary care that many families simply cannot access—and how do we protect animals without criminalizing poverty?
Ending Cat Declawing- Which States Are Enacting Bans in 2025?
Ending Cat Declawing- Which States Are Enacting Bans in 2025?
Many people think declawing is minor. It isn’t. This episode looks at what the surgery removes, the harm it can cause, and why more places are banning it.
Emotional Support Animals and the Housing Crisis : Loophole or Lifeline
Emotional Support Animals and the Housing Crisis : Loophole or Lifeline
Learn what qualifies as an emotional support animal, how ESAs differ from service animals, and what rights they have in housing.
How to Start an Animal Advocacy Group and Get Results: Lessons from Pennsylvania Voters for Animals
How to Start an Animal Advocacy Group and Get Results: Lessons from Pennsylvania Voters for Animals
Learn how to form an organization, build partnerships and mobilize community support.
Understanding Retail Pet Sale Bans: What They Do and Why They Matter
Understanding Retail Pet Sale Bans: What They Do and Why They Matter
Puppies are not like shoes. They don’t belong on display in store windows.
How Delaware Created a Statewide Office of Animal Welfare- A Model for Advocates
How Delaware Created a Statewide Office of Animal Welfare- A Model for Advocates
What happens when a state puts all animal welfare services under one roof? More pets saved and more families staying together.
Five Advocacy Lessons from Jane Goodall
Five Advocacy Lessons from Jane Goodall
How Jane Goodall stayed joyful and effective through six decades of advocacy.
When Advocacy Brings Backlash: Dr. Crystal Heath on Standing Strong
When Advocacy Brings Backlash: Dr. Crystal Heath on Standing Strong
Ever been criticized for speaking up for animals? If you haven’t, you will be. Let’s talk about it.
Why Local Governments Should Be Required to Provide Animal Control Services
Why Local Governments Should Be Required to Provide Animal Control Services
Animal control services should be considered an essential government function.
How Animal Control Really Works: An Advocate’s Guide
How Animal Control Really Works: An Advocate’s Guide
How animal control works — and often doesn’t. Why animal control should be considered an essential government function.
Listen to the Podcast on your favorite channel
Listeners can expect engaging discussions with experts in the field, including veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and advocacy leaders. These conversations shed light on the often-overlooked challenges faced by animals and the many ways advocates can contribute to positive change. Each episode is designed not only to inform but also to inspire action, encouraging listeners to take tangible steps in their local communities. By building awareness and sharing success stories, The Animal Advocate aspires to create a network of empowered individuals who are ready to turn knowledge into action. Together, we can champion the rights of animals and work towards a future where they are treated with the respect and care they deserve.
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