Everyone loves French Bulldogs. But behind those adorable bat ears and smushed faces lies a troubling reality: many of these dogs struggle to breathe every single day of their lives.

Host Penny Ellison, animal law professor and advocate, examines how selective breeding for appearance has created dogs predisposed to suffering—and what we can do about it.

In this episode, we explore:

• What selective breeding is and how the shift from breeding for function to breeding for looks has harmed dogs
• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)—why flat-faced dogs can't breathe properly and what those "cute" snorting sounds really mean
• The health consequences beyond breathing: eye problems, dental issues, sleep apnea, inability to regulate body temperature, and reproductive failure
• How Bulldogs looked in the 1850s versus today—and what that transformation reveals
• Other breeds paying the price. of selective breeding: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dachshunds
• The shelter irony: why flat-faced dogs get adopted in minutes while healthy mixed breeds wait for months
• How other countries are responding—from Germany's constitutional protections to Norway's breeding ban to the UK's new respiratory testing requirements at Crufts

Key Takeaway: We created these breeds, and we can reverse the trend. Every time we choose health over appearance, share information about these issues, support breeders who prioritize welfare or, of course, choose a shelter dog, we move closer to a world where loving dogs doesn't mean condemning them to struggle.

Resources Mentioned:

• British Veterinary Association's "Breed to Breathe" campaign
• UK's "End the Trend" campaign targeting brachycephalic breeds in advertising
• "Can the Bulldog Be Saved?" – New York Times Magazine article on how bulldogs have changed over time

What can animal advocates learn from the world of wine?

At first glance, the connection isn't obvious. One is associated with pleasure and tradition; the other with reducing suffering and changing law and policy. But the comparison turns out to be more revealing than it seems.

This episode examines what the world of wine understands about persuasion, patience, and human behavior—and what animal advocacy can learn from it. Not wine itself, but the way the wine world has learned how to invite people in, keep them engaged, and let interest deepen over time.

Drawing on examples from animal law and advocacy, the episode looks at why advocates often overwhelm people at the point of entry, why context matters more than we like to admit, and how insisting on one-size-fits-all solutions can undermine otherwise good policy. It also reflects on the long time horizons required for real change—and why some of the most meaningful advocacy work won't show results right away.

Key themes include:

• Why lowering the barrier to entry matters for persuasion

• What "terroir" can teach advocates about local context and strategy

• The difference between seriousness and effectiveness

• Why focus and curation are strategic, not indifferent

• How storytelling shapes identity in ways data alone cannot

• What thinking in decades looks like for animal advocacy

As the year comes to a close, the episode also outlines a new rhythm for The Animal Advocate and reflects on patience, consistency, and human connection in advocacy work.

You can find more resources and past episodes at AnimalAdvocacyAcademy.com.

Do adoption fees really protect animals — or do they just make us feel better?

For years, many in animal welfare have believed that adoption fees act as a safeguard: if someone can't afford the fee, how will they afford the pet? Free adoptions, the argument goes, invite impulse decisions and bad outcomes.

In this episode, I explain why I once believed that too — and why I've changed my mind.

Drawing on my experience working directly with shelters, serving on the board of the Pennsylvania SPCA, and running programs that connect people and animals, I examine what actually happens during fee-waived adoption events. I also take a close look at the research often cited to support free adoptions — including its strengths and its limitations — and explain why the data is encouraging, but not definitive.

This isn't a simple pro- or anti-fee argument. It's a conversation about shelter capacity, long-stay animals, euthanasia for space, and what really protects animals in a system under strain.

Key topics include:

• Why adoption fees were thought to be a protective filter

• What shelters see in real life during fee-waived events

• The limits of survey-based research on adoption outcomes

• Why fees don't measure commitment — and what does

• When fee-waived adoptions work, and when they don't

If you work in animal welfare, sheltering, or advocacy — or if you care about evidence-based policy for animals — this episode is for you.

You can find more resources and past episodes at AnimalAdvocacyAcademy.com.