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.

When a dog ends up in a taped-shut box outside a shelter, it's not a single-issue problem — it's a sign of how many pressures families and animals are facing right now.

In this episode, Penny shares why she set aside her planned topic to talk about the growing number of families forced to give up pets because they can't find or keep housing that allows them. Tangi's story illustrates what's happening across the country, and why advocates need to treat this as a housing issue just as much as an animal welfare issue.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why cases like Tangi's are becoming more common

• How eviction, application barriers, and pet policies intersect

• What research says about pet retention and family stability

• Why shelters can't carry this burden alone

• The policy solutions that would help families keep their animals

• How advocates can push for pet-inclusive housing in their own communities

If you care about reducing shelter intake, increasing safety nets for pet owners, and making sure fewer animals end up in crisis situations, this episode gives you a clear path forward.

Resources:
– AnimalAdvocacyAcademy.com (podcast archive, tools, and resources)

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who cares about animals too — it helps more than you know.

Cruelty laws require pet owners to provide necessary veterinary care, but in many communities that care is financially or geographically out of reach—and the law offers no workable way to address that gap. In this episode, I examine what happens when statutes mandate "necessary veterinary care," but many communities face barriers such as high cost, lack of clinics, transportation challenges, or the absence of a veterinarian accepting new clients.

We cover:

• Why inability—not unwillingness—to access treatment is often the real issue

• How veterinary deserts, clinic shortages, and transportation barriers shape outcomes

• How assumptions about neglect can obscure the truth about what families face

• What subsidized veterinary services, mobile clinics, and telehealth reform could change

• Policy approaches that support families and reduce shelter intake

• Practical ways advocates can help build fairer and more compassionate systems

Key takeaway:
We all want to protect animals, but we have to be careful that we're not criminalizing poverty when families cannot access the veterinary care the law requires — and if we truly prioritize animal welfare, we need to work together to make that care accessible. When we lead with compassion and push for systems that support people as well as animals, more pets receive the care they need and more families stay together.

Resources mentioned:
Animal Advocacy Academy

Because compassion is great, but compassionate action is infinitely better.

Declawing isn't a nail trim—it's the amputation of the last bone of each toe. In this episode, I break down what the procedure involves, the states banning it, and what advocates should know about the growing movement to end it.

We cover:

• What declawing is—and why it's far more invasive than most owners realize

• Documented health impacts: chronic pain, nerve damage, back problems, and behavioral changes

• Why declawed cats bite more often, and how that affects human health

• The seven states that have enacted statewide bans, plus pending bills in Minnesota, Illinois, and Pennsylvania

• How California's progression from local ordinances to a statewide prohibition reflects national momentum

• How major veterinary organizations are shifting their positions

• Humane, effective alternatives to declawing

• Practical steps advocates can take to move policy forward

Key takeaway: Declawing doesn't protect furniture—it causes lasting pain and serious behavioral risks. States and cities across the country are recognizing this and ending the practice. Understanding the evidence and supporting legislative change can help protect cats everywhere.

Resources mentioned:

• Links to pending legislation in Minnesota (HF 1857 and SF 1935) Illinois (SB 257), and Pennsylvania (HB 1716. and SB 846)

• Existing state bans: California, New York, Washington, DC, Massachusetts , Maryland , Virginia and Rhode Island

• Medical and Legal Summary and Alternatives to Declawing

• Animal Advocacy Academy — animaladvocacyacademy.com

Because compassion is great, but compassionate action is even better.

Rising rents and restrictive housing policies are forcing more families to surrender beloved pets to shelters—a heartbreaking choice driven by systemic issues. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are often seen as a lifeline, but confusion abounds about what ESAs truly are, how they differ from service animals, and what rights pet owners actually have.

Animal law expert Penny Ellison breaks down the legal realities, dispels myths, and arms advocates with the tools to support families facing housing crises.

In this episode, we explore:

• The critical differences between emotional support animals (ESAs) and ADA-defined service animals

• What legal protections exist for ESAs under the Fair Housing Act—and what doesn't apply

• The specific documentation required to qualify for an ESA accommodation (and how to spot scams)

• Why legitimate ESA requests matter—and how misuse harms those most in need

• Advocacy steps you can take to fight excessive pet fees, breed restrictions, and unfair housing barriers

• Real-world advice for navigating housing searches when your mental health depends on your pet

Key Takeaway: Emotional Support Animals are a vital tool for people with diagnosed mental health disabilities—but they aren't a loophole for pet policies. Advocates must understand and communicate the law clearly, support legitimate requests, and work for systemic change in housing policy to keep families together.

Resources mentioned:

• HUD guidance on Assistance Animals and Reasonable Housing Accommodations

• California, Illinois, and DC ordinances protecting tenants with pets

• Animal Advocacy Academy: animaladvocacyacademy.com

• Subscribe for more episodes on animal law, advocacy, and systemic solutions.

Because compassion is great, but compassionate action is infinitely better.

Think you need a law degree or years of experience to pass animal protection laws? Suzanne Gonzalez started Pennsylvania Voters for Animals with no legislative background and helped pass a comprehensive pet sales ban in Easton, PA. Host Penny Ellison shares their step-by-step blueprint that any group of committed advocates can replicate.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why forming a 501(c)(4) instead of a 501(c)(3) gave Pennsylvania Voters for Animals more legislative power—and how to get pro bono legal help setting up your own organization
• The research shortcut: How to use other cities' successful ordinances as your starting point instead of reinventing the wheel
• Why local advocacy works better than jumping straight to state legislation—and how to mobilize community members to show up and testify
• Strategic partnerships that accelerate success: How Pennsylvania Voters for Animals connected with Voters for Animal Rights, Animal Defense Partnership, and World Animal Protection US
• How to handle opposition from the pet trade industry—and when to compromise without abandoning your principles

Key Takeaway: You don't need a law degree, political connections, or massive resources to pass animal protection laws. Suzanne and Pennsylvania Voters for Animals proved that ordinary people with commitment, strategic partnerships, and a willingness to learn can achieve results—one community at a time.

Resources Mentioned:

• Pennsylvania Voters for Animals
• Voters for Animal Rights (New York)
• Animal Defense Partnership
• World Animal Protection US
• Fish Feel
• Lady Freethinker

If you're in Pennsylvania and want to bring a pet sales ban or other animal protection ordinance to your community, reach out to Pennsylvania Voters for Animals at pavotersforanimals.org. They're building a network of advocates across the state and are eager to help you succeed. Even if you're in another state, they're happy to share their experiences and resources.

Subscribe for more episodes on animal law, effective advocacy, and practical solutions for systemic change—because compassion is great, but compassionate action is infinitely better.