Exotic Animal Trafficking and Safe Havens with Bobbi Brink
The Animal Advocate
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 pulls back the curtain on the underworld of wildlife trafficking, exposes the sham “sanctuaries” that are little more than roadside attractions, and shares...
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Wild Animal Ownership: Exotic Pets, Roadside Zoos and Public Risk
The Animal Advocate
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. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Exotic Animals: Ownership Crisis - How viral videos mask the reality of 17.6 million exotic pets suffering in American homes 05:07 Risks of Keeping Slow Lorises - Asia's only venomous primate faces 90% mortality...
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Getting Started as an Animal Shelter Volunteer
The Animal Advocate
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. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Breaking Down Volunteering Barriers: Penny discusses why many animal lovers hesitate to volunteer and how to bridge the gap between wanting to help and actually helping 02:30 Starting the Volunteering Journey: Megan shares how she began volunteering with a...
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Beyond the Shelter Walls: Examining Managed Intake and Community Sheltering
The Animal Advocate
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: 00:00 Rethinking Broken Animal Shelter Systems: Understanding why traditional shelter models aren't working and the mathematical reality of "live release rates" 05:52 Revolutionizing Shelter Intake Management: How appointment-based sheltering creates breathing room for staff and potentially better...
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Inside 150+ Animal Shelters: Cara Achterberg on Rising Euthanasia Rates and Solutions
The Animal Advocate
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, discover strategies to support your local animal shelter and help reduce euthanasia rates in your community. #ShelterDogs #AnimalAdvocacy #PetAdoption Show Notes...
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Lost Dog Recovery: Legal Timelines & Prevention Strategies That Save Lives
The Animal Advocate
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 this episode, we break down exactly what to do if your dog goes missing, how the shelter system works legally, and prevention strategies that could save your pet's life. We also share the powerful story of Polo, who was...
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Beyond Breed Bias: Fighting Discriminatory Housing Policies for Dog Owners
The Animal Advocate
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 inspire and guide your advocacy journey. In today’s episode, we're diving into dog breed discrimination in housing. Many families face the heartbreaking decision...
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Changing the Pit Bull Story: From Fear to Facts
The Animal Advocate
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 likely to die in shelters than dogs with other breed labels. Major challenges include overbreeding, negative stereotypes, lack of access to veterinary care, and...
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Fix It: Making Spay/Neuter Accessible and Affordable
The Animal Advocate
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. Join host Penny Ellison, a seasoned animal law expert, as she breaks down the challenges, such as the financial and logistical barriers pet owners face and...
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Understanding Animal Shelters: Roles, Challenges, and Misconceptions
The Animal Advocate
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 common misconceptions and criticisms of shelters. The episode includes practical guidance on evaluating local shelters and ends with actionable steps for listeners to become more informed animal advocates in...
info_outlineWelcome 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.