In this thought-provoking episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Harvard-educated attorney and author Elizabeth MeLampy for a deep dive into the world of animal law, environmental justice, and the quirky cultural traditions that shape our relationships with animals. Elizabeth shares her journey from clerking for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to litigating high-impact environmental cases, and how her academic work with Harvard’s Animal Law & Policy Clinic and the Brooks Institute helped shape her interdisciplinary perspective.

We also explore her debut book, FORGET THE CAMEL: The Madcap World of Animal Festivals and What They Say About Being Human—a captivating blend of legal insight, cultural anthropology, and personal narrative that examines how animal-related celebrations reflect our human values, contradictions, and capacity for empathy. Tune in for an engaging conversation that challenges assumptions, celebrates curiosity, and redefines what it means to advocate for animals.

In this episode, we sit down with the Humane Educators of Texas to dive into their incredible work across the country. From their innovative training programs to their community outreach efforts, they’re helping reshape the future of animal welfare through education and advocacy. We explore Humane H.E.L.P. and how it is making an impact on compassion fatigue. Tune in to learn how Humane Educators of Texas are making a real impact and how their approach to humane education is creating stronger, more compassionate communities.

In Part Two of our conversation about KC Pet Project, we discuss the unexpected loss of their animal control services contract and what it means for their organization, their staff, and the community they serve.