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.

Exotic Animal Trafficking and Safe Havens with Bobbi Brink 06/04/2025

Exotic Animal Trafficking and Safe Havens with Bobbi Brink Welcome to The Animal Advocate, where we help you move from compassion to action for animals. 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 incredible stories of rescue, recovery, and advocacy. Together, we explore the challenges of caring for traumatized big cats and bears, the hard truths about legal gaps and enforcement, and why real sanctuaries—those that never breed, buy, or sell animals—are essential. You’ll also learn how you can get involved in the fight for stronger laws and better lives for exotic animals including leaving them in their natural habitat and fiercely protecting their right to exist there. Get ready for an eye-opening conversation that will leave you inspired to act on behalf of animals who have no voice but ours. Episode Highlights: · 01:14 Where do confiscated wild animals go? Penny explains that government agencies rarely provide long-term care for seized wild animals; accredited sanctuaries must step in but are rare and underfunded. · 03:23 Only 8% of US facilities calling themselves sanctuaries are GFAS accredited; most "sanctuaries" don't provide proper care. · 05:17 Introduces guest Bobbi Brink, founder of Lions, Tigers, and Bears Sanctuary to discuss real sanctuary work and the crisis caused by exotic animal ownership. · 06:16 Bobbi describes rescuing wild animals nationwide, frequently working with authorities and serving as an education center. · 07:32 Many animals at the sanctuary come from wildlife trafficking, which is a large and lucrative market—it ranks right after drugs, weapons, and human trafficking. · 08:35 Animal trafficking methods include being hidden in luggage or vehicles; examples include tigers smuggled across the US/Mexico border. · 09:14 Exotic animals, like jaguars and tigers, can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars and may change hands multiple times. · 1010: Social media often tips off authorities about illegal private ownership or breeding; enforcement is inconsistent, and unlicensed breeders are common. · 11:50 Animal photo ops drive demand; baby animals are bred for short-term use, leading to an endless cycle of exploitation. · 12:46 Bobbi urges listeners never to take patronize a facility that allows you to photos with baby exotic animals, as this supports harmful industries. · 13:45 Avenues for advocacy—Bobbi spent years lobbying for the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which faced obstacles like circus industry pushback. · 16:06 Major differences between true, accredited sanctuaries and facilities misusing the term; accredited sanctuaries don't buy, sell, or breed animals and commit to animals for life. · 17:08 Regular audits and stringent standards separate accredited sanctuaries from others; Bobbi works with and supports peers to meet standards. · 18:41 High-profile incidents, like Zanesville, Ohio, helped pass laws restricting private ownership of exotic animals; but laws vary widely by state. · 20:12 Lions, Tigers, and Bears cares for 65 animals on 42 acres, with individualized care—many rescued animals arrive with health or psychological issues. · 21:39 Each animal's needs are different, e.g., declawed tigers or with metabolic bone disease require special medical and habitat considerations. · 23:23 None of the sanctuary’s residents can be released into the wild; if an animal could be rehabbed and released, that's prioritized and explored as a first option. · 24:33 Bobbi's advocacy is ongoing—her team pushes for new federal and state-level laws, like the Primate Public Safety Act and bans on traveling animal acts. · 27:18 People can help sanctuaries through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness; more info is available at lionstigersandbears.org. · 28: 44 Penny wraps up, encouraging listeners to act and referencing further resources at animaladvocacyacademy.com. Links: More questions or want to get involved: Email us at [email protected] /episode/index/show/animaladvocacyacademy/id/36851915

Wild Animal Ownership: Exotic Pets, Roadside Zoos and Public Risk 05/29/2025

Wild Animal Ownership: Exotic Pets, Roadside Zoos and Public Risk 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 rates and brutal tooth extractions for the pet trade 09:24 Exotic Pet Ownership Dangers - From 7,000 pet tigers to 74,000 annual salmonella infections, examining human safety and health risks 13:16 Invasive Pythons Threaten Florida Wildlife - How abandoned exotic pets created an ecological disaster in the Everglades 15:13 Exotic Pet Ownership and Legal Mess - Navigating the confusing state-by-state regulations with major enforcement gaps 20:19 Exotic Pet Trade Laws Lacking Enforcement - Federal legislation loopholes and limited inspection resources 23:23 Improving Exotic Animal Welfare - Model state laws, legitimate sanctuaries, and public education solutions 26:30 Avoid Ethical Wildlife Exploitation - Listener Q&A on safe, ethical wildlife photography alternatives 29:11 Keep Exotic Animals Wild - Action steps for supporting conservation and combating exploitation Links: How are wild animals transported? See and . - Protecting wildlife habitat This episode reveals why wild animals belong in the wild and provides practical ways listeners can help protect both exotic species and their communities from the dangers of the exotic pet trade. For all our epsiodes and more resources, visit #ExoticPets #WildlifeConservation #AnimalWelfare #PublicSafety #AnimalAdvocacy /episode/index/show/animaladvocacyacademy/id/36768270

Getting Started as an Animal Shelter Volunteer 05/21/2025

Getting Started as an Animal Shelter Volunteer 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 friend and formed bonds with individual dogs that kept her coming back 04:15 Navigating Shelter Orientation: How the orientation process helps new volunteers feel comfortable and prepared 06:45 Exploring Diverse Volunteer Roles: Beyond dog walking - making enrichment toys, handling events, photography, cat work, and media appearances 09:30 Creating Flexible Volunteering Schedules: How even busy people can fit meaningful volunteering into their lives 11:15 Shelter Success Stories: Megan recounts helping a struggling shelter dog find a foster home 13:00 Media Exposure for Adoptable Animals: How television appearances help increase adoption rates 15:30 Taking Dogs on "Off-Site" Adventures: The benefits of getting dogs out of the shelter environment 18:45 Managing Emotional Challenges: Strategies for handling difficult days, especially in the post-COVID era 21:30 Personal Growth Through Volunteering: How 17 years of shelter work transformed Megan into an empath Penny notes that just two hours of volunteering weekly provides shelter animals with 104 hours of human interaction annually. Megan emphasizes the volunteer community as vital support: "You are part of this giant family... you're all there for the same reason." For all episodes, show, notes and links visit us at /episode/index/show/animaladvocacyacademy/id/36649995

Beyond the Shelter Walls: Examining Managed Intake and Community Sheltering 05/07/2025

Beyond the Shelter Walls: Examining Managed Intake and Community Sheltering 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 outcomes for animals 07:15 Rethinking Animal Shelter Capacity: Insights from UC Davis's "Capacity for Care" model and how national organizations are supporting managed intake approaches 10:58 Managed Intake's Unintended Consequences: Examining equity issues, abandonment risks, and challenges for people in crisis 14:48 Examing "Community Sheltering": The philosophy of treating shelters as just one part of a broader safety net rather than the sole solution 19:53 Addressing Community Sheltering Challenges: Quality control concerns, increase in strays and unaltered animals in the community, sustainability questions, and potential underfunding problems 22:53 Animal Welfare: Shared Responsibility Debate: Why the most successful communities implement thoughtful combinations of both approaches 26:43 Pet Food Drive Initiative: Learn how organizing a pet food bank donation drive can prevent surrenders and keep families together during temporary hardships Links: service for direct rehoming database of dog-friendly housing options Pet food bank search tool from This episode offers a nuanced, balanced examination of evolving shelter practices without simple answers, encouraging listeners to consider the complex realities of animal welfare systems in their communities. #AnimalShelters #PetAdoption #ManagedIntake #CommunitySheltering #AnimalWelfare /episode/index/show/animaladvocacyacademy/id/36475140

Inside 150+ Animal Shelters: Cara Achterberg on Rising Euthanasia Rates and Solutions 04/16/2025

Lost Dog Recovery: Legal Timelines & Prevention Strategies That Save Lives 04/04/2025

Lost Dog Recovery: Legal Timelines & Prevention Strategies That Save Lives 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 recently reunited with his family after being adopted out during the stray hold period. Episode Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction and the urgency of lost dog situations 00:40 - Polo's story: A dog adopted before his family could find him 01:50 - Why lost dogs need advocates and the ripple effects for shelters 03:20 – First steps when your dog goes missing 04:14 - Search techniques and the counter-intuitive tip for approaching scared dogs 05:04 - Creating and distributing effective lost dog flyers 06:32 - Digital search strategies and online resources 08:00 - Understanding the shelter system and why you must visit in person 10:53 - Stray hold periods and their legal consequences 14:20 - How reclaiming your dog helps the entire shelter system 15:20 - What if your dog is stolen? 15:36- Legal considerations when dogs are viewed as property 16:52 - Found property laws and reporting requirements 17:40 - Small claims court options for recovering your dog 18:55 - Prevention strategies including secure containment 19:48 - Proper identification and GPS tracking success story 21:24 - Importance of informing pet sitters about reporting lost pets immediately 22:51 - Listener Q&A: Rights after stray hold periods expire 25:33 - "Be The Change" microchip verification challenge 26:52 - Polo's happy ending and conclusion Key Takeaways: Every minute matters, but panic wastes time Your dog doesn't care about county lines—and neither should your search After a legally required hold period expires, your dog legally becomes the property of the shelter Proper identification (microchips, GPS trackers) significantly increases reunion chances Checking shelters in person is crucial as staff may misidentify breed or appearance Tell anyone who watches your dog that they MUST notify you immediately if the dog goes missing Resources Mentioned: Paw Boost: pawboost.com Petco Love Lost: lost.petcolove.org Home Again: homeagain.com American Animal Hospital Association's Pet Microchip Lookup tool: aaha.org/your-pet/pet-microchip-lookup/ "Be The Change" Challenge: Take 15 minutes today to verify and update your pet's microchip information. If your pet isn't microchipped, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Have you ever lost a pet? How did you find them? Share your stories with us at or visit our website at animaladvocacyacademy.com. The Animal Advocate podcast is brought to you by the Animal Advocacy Academy, transforming compassionate citizens into effective agents of change for animals. /episode/index/show/animaladvocacyacademy/id/36007190

Beyond Breed Bias: Fighting Discriminatory Housing Policies for Dog Owners 03/19/2025

Beyond Breed Bias: Fighting Discriminatory Housing Policies for Dog Owners 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 of choosing between their homes and their beloved pets due to breed-specific housing regulations. We'll explore how these restrictions emerged from biased media portrayals and their questionable effectiveness in promoting safety. Additionally, we'll discuss the broader impacts of these policies on low-income families, potential solutions through legislation, and how communities can work towards fairer housing practices for all pet owners. Join us as we unpack these critical topics and offer actionable strategies for you to support equitable housing for pet owners in your own community. [00:00:00] Announcement about evolving the podcast format to include interviews with key players in animal advocacy. [00:01:37] Discussion on the episode's focus: pet restrictions and housing. [00:02:33] Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) - Explanation of BSL and its impact on certain dog breeds. - Historical context of breed bans and media bias against pit bulls. [00:06:21] Lack of Effectiveness of BSL - Impact of these laws on insurance policies and rental housing. [00:08:27] The Impact on Families - How breed restrictions disproportionately affect families with lower income. - Challenges faced by renters and those in public housing regarding pet ownership. [00:09:32] Case Study: Maryland Court Decision - Overview of the Tracy vs. Soleski case and its impact on pit bull owners. - Implications of the ruling on housing [00:11:34] Potential Solutions - Discussion on federal and state-level legislative efforts to address breed discrimination. - Mention of Colorado and Florida's legislative actions against breed discrimination. [00:14:09] The Importance of Shifting Perspectives - Importance of changing societal views on restricted breeds. - The need for education and awareness to combat misinformation. [00:15:07] Listener Question: Community-Level Change - Strategies for shifting landlord perspectives on breed restrictions in a small town. [00:17:23] "Be the Change" Action Steps - Action steps for listeners to engage with local public housing authorities and lawmakers. - Encouragement for volunteers and professionals to influence policy and perceptions. [00:18:38] Final Thoughts - Call for education and advocacy against breed stereotypes. - Encouragement to support shelter and rescue organizations. [00:20:23] Conclusion If you have any other questions or need further details, feel free to ask! Links /episode/index/show/animaladvocacyacademy/id/35780015

Changing the Pit Bull Story: From Fear to Facts 02/20/2025

Changing the Pit Bull Story: From Fear to Facts 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 breed-specific legislation. Research shows removing breed labels increases adoption rates. Also, there is reason for hope because several states are now passing laws to protect pit bull owners from housing and insurance discrimination. The episode concludes with practical advice for potential pit bull adopters and a call to action for listeners to help change the narrative around these dogs through positive sharing and fostering. Topics Covered: [00:00:00] - Introduction to episode topic on pit bulls and changing narratives [00:00:52] - Background on historical pattern of breed discrimination (German Shepherds, Dobermans) [00:02:00] - Explanation that "pit bull" isn't a single breed but a catch-all term [00:03:28] - Discussion of pit bull representation in shelters (30-60%) [00:04:11] – The Pit Bull Issue - Backyard breeding issue, Stigma, Legal challenges [00:05:09] - Discussion of barriers: Negative stereotypes, Lack of access to veterinary care, Breed-specific legislation (BSL), Insurance discrimination, Housing restrictions [00:07:27] - Research findings on removing breed labels [00:08:12] - Effective solutions [00:11:28] - Listener question about adopting pit bulls and housing/insurance concerns [00:13:38] - "Be the Change" segment:- Promote a pit-ish dog and change the narrative Resources Mentioned: Dorset Follow us: Website: /episode/index/show/animaladvocacyacademy/id/35359570

Fix It: Making Spay/Neuter Accessible and Affordable 02/06/2025

Understanding Animal Shelters: Roles, Challenges, and Misconceptions 01/22/2025

Bad Dog Breeders: Spot them to Stop Them 01/02/2025

Understanding State Animal Cruelty Laws 11/06/2024

Animal Law 101 - A Framework for Animal Advocacy 10/14/2024

Welcome to The Animal Advocate 08/12/2024

The Animal Advocate

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