This episode of the Animal Law Podcast features Christopher Berry, Executive Director of the Nonhuman Rights Project, discussing a groundbreaking court case that recognizes companion animals as family members in certain legal contexts. Mariann and Christopher explore how this New York decision challenges decades of precedent that treated beloved pets as mere property rather than family, potentially opening new doors for animal legal rights.

This episode explores:

• The absurd legal status of companion animals in tort law, including a Texas case where a taxidermied dog would receive more legal protection than a living one
• The facts of a landmark New York case involving a family dog killed in a crosswalk accident
• How courts are beginning to recognize companion animals as family members in negligent infliction of emotional distress claims
• The perverse incentives created by current laws that often make it “better” to kill than injure an animal
• The broader implications for animal rights and the Non-Human Rights Project’s work on procedural rights for animals

This compelling conversation highlights how the legal system’s treatment of companion animals reflects deeper inequities in our relationship with all animals, and how common law evolution can help change the world for animals through the legal system.

Christopher Berry is Executive Director of the Nonhuman Rights Project, where he leads the organization’s groundbreaking legal effort to secure fundamental legal rights for nonhuman animals. Before joining the NhRP in 2024, he spent over a decade at the Animal Legal Defense Fund focusing on civil enforcement of animal protection laws and elevating animal legal status through strategic litigation.  

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You can listen to the Animal Law Podcast directly on our website (at the top of this page) or you can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would consider making a donation or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Don’t forget to also listen to the award-winning,  weekly signature OHH podcast — now in its fifteenth glorious year!

In this week’s Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann weave through a tapestry of topics with their signature blend of wit and passion. From Rochester’s unseasonably cold August weather to the legal victory against “Alligator Alcatraz,” the conversation takes delightful detours while tackling serious issues like the persistent protein myths still plaguing vegans and the complexities of meat reduction trends worldwide.

This episode explores:

• An important legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity against environmentally destructive prison construction in the Everglades
• The persistent myths about protein that vegans continue to face, despite decades of nutritional evidence
• West Hollywood’s groundbreaking ban on the sale of all animals, not just dogs and cats
• The growing trend of meat reduction and “flexitarianism” among consumers worldwide
• Ethical questions surrounding Farm Kind’s controversial “meat offset” program that allows meat-eaters to donate to animal causes

• • • Challenging “Alligator Alcatraz”: The Legal Fight to Protect the Everglades with Elise Bennett
    • Rethinking Rescue on Bookshop.org
    • Where Are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and What’s RFK’s Beef With Beans?
    • The Self-Importance of Luxury Dining
    • Plant-based meat has been relentlessly — and unfairly — attacked as “ultra-processed.” Can the industry save itself?
    • Beyond Meat now just Beyond: what it means for poultry
    • Your Excuses For Eating Meat Are Predictable And Wrong, Study Finds
    • Another Lifesaving Law! Is West Hollywood America’s Most Animal-Friendly City?
    • Nearly A Quarter Of Consumers Identify As ‘Meat Reducers’ Or Flexitarians
    • Denver’s ‘Eat Less Meat’ campaign sparks backlash from ag community, praise from activists
    • Oscar Mayer Debuts Pack Of Plant-Based And Animal-Based Hot Dogs For ‘Everybun’
    • An unorthodox idea for solving one of the world’s most underrated problems

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this week’s episode of Rising Anxieties, we examine the meat industry’s growing concerns. From water scarcity issues affecting livestock-heavy regions to unexpected anti-vax policy changes impacting animal agriculture, Mariann walks listeners through the headlines that have industry executives worried. The episode covers everything from depleting aquifers in agricultural states to the prosecution of mink liberation activists, while also exploring challenges to backyard chickens and public criticism of marine mammal captivity.

This episode explores:

• The terrifying depletion of vital underground water reservoirs in states with heavy livestock production including California, Texas, and Kansas
• How the cancellation of $776 million in avian flu vaccine funding is creating anxiety throughout the poultry industry
• The ongoing legal case against the “Northumberland Two,” who face multiple charges for releasing mink from a fur farm
• The poultry industry’s surprising campaign against backyard chicken keeping and their contradictory messaging about animal care
• A revealing look at PETA’s correspondence with a performer scheduled to appear at SeaWorld and the reaction it generated

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

This episode explores the powerful connections between factory farming, political repression, and the rise of authoritarianism with award-winning investigative journalist Will Potter. In a thought-provoking conversation about his new book Little Red Barns: Hiding the Truth from Farm to Fable, Potter reveals how his decade-long investigation uncovered the dangerous intersection between industrial agriculture and fascist movements. With authenticity and passion, Mariann and Will discuss how bearing witness to animal suffering can illuminate broader patterns of violence and political manipulation in our society.

This episode explores:

• How the meat industry uses the “little red barn” mythology to mask the reality of factory farming, while fascist movements similarly invoke a return to an idealized past
• Why animal advocates have been “canaries in the coal mine” for social movements challenging state and corporate power
• The evolution of investigative journalism and how animal rights organizations have filled crucial gaps in exposing industry practices
• The psychological toll of bearing witness to suffering and strategies for maintaining resilience while refusing to look away
• How reframing our relationship with animals could help address interconnected crises of climate change, authoritarianism, and violence

Will Potter is an award-winning investigative journalist and author, and a leading international voice challenging attacks on civil liberties in the name of fighting “terrorism.” Will was the first investigative journalist to be named a TED Senior Fellow, and has addressed governmental bodies including the U.S. Congress, Australian Parliament, and Council of Europe. He is the author of Green Is the New Red, which exposed the FBI’s targeting of environmentalists as “terrorists.” His new book, Little Red Barns: Hiding the truth from farm to fable, is a 10-year investigation of factory farms and fascism.

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

This episode features a conversation with Michael Dorf, Cornell Law School professor and animal advocate, who shares insights from his presentations at Vegan Summerfest. Jasmin and Mariann discuss their upcoming “staycation” plans while reflecting on the early days of Our Hen House.

This episode explores:

• How human rights frameworks can be applied to animal rights advocacy
• The nationwide shelter crisis and the “Clear the Shelters” initiative happening throughout August
• Storytelling as a tool for social change in the animal rights movement
• Michael Dorf’s perspective on activism approaches for different personality types

Remember to support your local animal shelters during the Clear the Shelters campaign this August by visiting cleartheshelters.org to find participating locations near you.

• • • The Vegan with Andrew Lipstein
    • Clear The Shelters website
    • ASPCA NY’s website
    • Spent by Alison Bechdel
    • Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag: A Memoir by Michael Anthony
    • Dorf on Law: Nonhuman animals and the Constitution: Vegan Summerfest, My Upcoming Seminar, and More
    • Dorf on Law: Human Rights for Nonhumans, Activism for Introverts, and Other Seeming Oxymorons

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this heartwarming episode, Jasmin and Mariann welcome Sherri Franklin, founder and executive director of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, a groundbreaking organization that has saved over 13,000 senior dogs since 2007. What began with just 27 dogs in Sherri’s kitchen has transformed into a revolutionary cage-free shelter in San Francisco that now rescues more than 27 dogs every week. Through Sherri’s compassionate vision, Muttville has reimagined what animal sheltering can be – creating a welcoming community space where both dogs and humans thrive.

This episode explores:

• How Muttville’s innovative cage-free shelter model creates a positive environment that encourages adoption and community engagement
• The special programs created for senior citizens and children, including the popular “Cuddle Club” that brings joy to isolated elderly individuals
• Why senior dogs make wonderful companions and the misconceptions that often prevent them from finding homes
• The importance of vegan advocacy within animal rescue organizations, with Muttville leading by example through vegan events and education
• Practical solutions for common senior dog health issues, including the organization’s hospice program that provides palliative care support

Sherri Franklin is the founder and executive director of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, a groundbreaking organization that has saved over 13,000 senior dogs since 2007. A longtime vegan who hasn’t eaten meat for more than 40 years, Sherri pioneered one of the first animal welfare organizations to establish a meat-free policy in its bylaws, with all Muttville events now featuring exclusively vegan offerings. Her innovative approach created America’s first cage-free senior dog shelter, which has become an internationally recognized model hosting visitors from as far as Osaka and Istanbul. Sherri’s compassionate work earned her recognition as a CNN Hero in 2016, transforming the concept of animal shelters into community centers that bring together people and senior dogs to foster joy and connection.

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this delightfully candid episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann dive into a mix of animal rights victories, personal news, and the peculiarities of content creation in the digital age.

• Jasmin’s Big News: Jasmin reveals she’ll be playing Judy Garland in “End of the Rainbow” at Center Stage Theater in Rochester this December.
• Fur Industry Collapse: Discussion of Kenny Torrella’s Vox article detailing what may be “the biggest animal welfare victory of the 21st century” 
• Farm Sanctuary Memories: Mariann shares her nostalgic visit to the Farm Sanctuary Hoedown, reflecting on her decades-long connection to the sanctuary
• YouTube Content Challenges: The hosts humorously navigate the mysterious world of YouTube algorithms and which words might affect their channel’s performance
• Inspiring Animal Rights News:
  • A 72-year-old vegan nun winning a powerlifting competition
  • A Michelin-starred Parisian restaurant switching to a plant-based menu
  • Activist Maddie Krasno’s legal victory against censorship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Disturbing Zoo Practices: Critical examination of controversial practices at European zoos, including public pet donations for predator feeding and the killing of baboons due to overcrowding
• Wild Horse Controversy: Analysis of a Washington Post article suggesting wild horses should be consumed as food, highlighting the inconsistencies in how we view different animals

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this week’s delightfully disturbing dive into animal agriculture’s paranoia, Mariann Sullivan unpacks the industry’s latest pearl-clutching over those pesky activists who have the audacity to…checks notes…document actual conditions on farms. Gasp! From Canadian farmers fretting about undercover investigations to Perdue shaping chicken meat into cute sea creatures while the plant-based industry gets crucified for “confusing” labeling, the hypocrisy reaches ocean depths. Meanwhile, the UK bans a dairy ad seen by millions because 25 people complained, and Perdue executives try desperately to silence protesters by essentially arguing that the First Amendment has a “but not in my neighborhood” clause.

• Canadian Farms “At Risk” from Activism: Ag legal expert warns about undercover surveillance and welfare complaints, while conveniently ignoring why such tactics might be necessary
• Perdue’s Bizarre Sea Creature Chicken Nuggets: The irony of shaping chicken into fish, dolphins and turtles while the plant-based industry faces labeling scrutiny
• UK Advertising Standards Authority Bans Anti-Dairy Ad: “Dairy Is Scary” ad banned after reaching 3.5 million viewers because 0.0025% complained
• Mink Release Activists Face Cruel Twist: Prosecutors drop conspiracy charges but add “aggravated cruelty to animals” against activists who freed mink from fur farms
• Perdue Executives Sue DXE Over Protests: Second executive files lawsuit to stop peaceful protests outside their homes, claiming “emotional distress”

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this collaborative episode with Animal Policy Alliance, Our Hen House explores the critical defensive battles being waged in state legislatures to protect animals from harmful agricultural industry bills. From blocking anti-drone legislation in Missouri to defeating rabbit farming expansion in Connecticut, our guests share their strategies for legislative success despite being outspent and outmaneuvered by powerful industry interests.

• Successfully blocked anti-drone bills that would prevent documentation of factory farm abuses
• Defeated rabbit farming expansion with overwhelming public testimony (568 against vs. 5 in support)
• Built strategic coalitions with unexpected allies including small farmers and law enforcement
• Leveraged research and evidence-based arguments to strengthen grassroots advocacy
• Engaged youth through education about legislative process and animal protection
• Used behind-the-scenes tactics to work effectively with legislators across party lines

Bob Baker serves as Executive Director of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, bringing nearly 50 years of animal welfare expertise to the role. As a former national investigator for the ASPCA, Humane Farming Association, and Chief Investigator for the Humane Society of the United States, Bob has conducted animal cruelty investigations and advocacy work across 42 states. His extensive legislative experience has yielded significant victories for both companion and agricultural animals, most notably spearheading the 2011 Canine Cruelty Prevention Act that successfully shut down over 1,200 puppy mills in Missouri. His comprehensive background in animal protection legislation, puppy mill investigations, and farm animal advocacy has established him as a leading voice in animal welfare reform.

Joshua is the Legislative & Advocacy Manager for CT Votes for Animals. His role is multifaceted and involves policy research, strategic planning and coalition-building, lobbying with state and local officials, and facilitating education outreach initiatives that aim to increase the understanding of, and participation in, the state legislative process. 

Hannah Truxell is the Senior Policy Counsel with The Humane League where she leads a team of researchers who focus on providing support to THL’s Animal Policy Alliance. She and her team focus on state, federal, and local policy research, drafting model legislation, and legislative and campaign strategy. Hannah led THL’s internal research for and support to the organization’s legal team’s success in defending California’s Proposition 12 before the U.S. Supreme Court, the most impactful animal welfare law in the world. With more than a decade in various in-house roles, Hannah has broad experience in nonprofit law, animal law, and public policy. She previously served as Assistant General Counsel of The Humane League, counsel at Farm Sanctuary, and pro bono counsel with the Animal Welfare Institute. Hannah is the current Chair of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Animal Law Section and co-founded a Kentucky grassroots nonprofit, Kentucky Animal Action. She earned JD and Master of Political Science degrees from the University of Louisville and a BA from Virginia Tech.

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The Animal Policy Alliance, established by The Humane League, is a powerful collective of local and state-level animal advocacy groups throughout the United States. We serve as a trusted resource, providing knowledge, strategies, connection opportunities, and grants to our member organizations. We lead with purpose, empowering alliance members to build toward our shared vision of a world without animal abuse.

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this episode of The Hen Report, Mariann and Jasmin welcome back Richard “Kudo” Couto of Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) for a crucial   follow-up to his interview from episode 819. When Kudo first appeared on the show, his major investigation into Woodcrest Dairy was just breaking, and he couldn’t share all the details. Now he returns to reveal how ARM’s undercover work exposed horrific animal abuse at yet another Fairlife milk supplier and forced the facility to shut down completely. The conversation details how Coca-Cola and Fairlife, despite investing millions in alleged “animal welfare” measures following previous ARM investigations, continue to source milk from operations where extreme cruelty is standard practice. This powerful follow-up demonstrates how strategic activism and consumer pressure can hold even the world’s largest corporations accountable for animal suffering.

This episode explores:

• How ARM’s investigation at Woodcrest Dairy revealed systematic torture of dairy cows, including brutal treatment of mothers during labor and birth
• The direct connection between Woodcrest Dairy and Fairlife milk, despite Coca-Cola’s attempts to deny the relationship
• How ARM’s strategic approach—providing evidence to authorities before going public—exposed law enforcement’s unwillingness to prosecute animal cruelty cases
• The remarkable outcome of the investigation: Woodcrest Dairy’s complete shutdown and Fairlife removing “animal welfare” claims from their marketing
• Why this case represents a significant turning point in holding the dairy industry accountable through both legal action and consumer awareness

For more information on this investigation, visit animalrecoverymission.org, where you can find the full report on Operation Fairlife New Mexico.

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.