The Animal Advocate Podcast Por Penny Ellison arte de portada

The Animal Advocate

The Animal Advocate

De: Penny Ellison
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 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.
Episodios
  • How to Stop Backyard Breeding: A Novel Approach to Shelter Overcrowding

    How to Stop Backyard Breeding: A Novel Approach to Shelter Overcrowding
    Jul 4 2025

    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 enablers into active enforcement partners. Instead of playing whack-a-mole with hidden backyard breeders, this systems approach creates economic incentives that make unregistered breeding unprofitable.

    You'll learn:

    • Why current breeder regulations miss the mark
    • The hidden economics driving backyard breeding operations
    • How mandatory registration + platform liability = fewer shelter intakes (and more adoptions!)
    • Why this approach works when traditional enforcement fails
    • Specific legislative language advocates can use in their states

    This isn't about building more shelters—it's about preventing the need for them. By following successful regulatory models from credit card and copyright industries, we can create upstream solutions that address root causes rather than just symptoms.

    The Animal Advocate explores systemic solutions to animal welfare challenges through smart policy and advocacy strategies.
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    20 m
  • Rethinking Wildlife Protection: From Scarcity to Abundance

    Rethinking Wildlife Protection: From Scarcity to Abundance
    Jun 27 2025

    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 locally. Preserve biodiversity and make a difference for future generations. #WildlifeConservation #AnimalAdvocacy #Biodiversity #EnvironmentalProtection

    Show Notes

    00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
    Why our approach to wildlife protection is fundamentally flawed.

    01:10 – Silent Spring to Silent Seasons
    Reflecting on Rachel Carson’s legacy and the ongoing decline of bird populations.

    03:00 – The Empty Forest Syndrome
    Explanation of how small decisions have led to massive wildlife losses and quieter forests.

    04:25 – Flaws in Current Wildlife Laws
    Review of crisis-based legislation like the Endangered Species Act and its limitations.

    06:35 – State Efforts and Underfunded Solutions
    Discussion of state wildlife action plans, conservation easements, and funding deficits.

    08:43 – The Issue of Habitat Fragmentation
    Challenges of isolated conservation efforts and their impact on species survival.

    10:15 – Why Wildlife Abundance Matters
    How wildlife loss affects ecosystems, the economy, and future generations.

    11:02 – Proactive Local and Federal Solutions
    Actionable strategies for legal changes and incentives for private landowners.

    13:06 – Success Stories in Conservation
    North American Wildlife Management Plan and effective private land restoration programs.

    15:10 – Listener Questions & Be the Change
    Tips for individuals: create wildlife-friendly yards, support rehab centers, and get engaged locally.

    Reach out to diuscuss this or other animal advocacy matters to podcast@animaladvocacyacademy.com.
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    19 m
  • Exotic Animal Trafficking and Safe Havens with Bobbi Brink

    Exotic Animal Trafficking and Safe Havens with Bobbi Brink
    Jun 4 2025
    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: Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary GFAS Accredited Sanctuaries More questions or want to get involved: Email us at podcast@animaladvocacyacademy.com
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    30 m
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