CEO, Emancipet
Amy Mills is the CEO of Emancipet, whose mission is to make preventive veterinary care affordable, accessible, and understandable for all pet owners. Emancipet serves the greater Austin/Central Texas community through two mobile spay/neuter clinics and a spay/neuter/wellness clinic in East Austin. These three clinics provide almost 19,000 spay/neuter surgeries and an additional 19,000 wellness visits per year. Amy’s passion for animal welfare began in 2002 when she started volunteering at the local humane society, first training shelter dogs, and then creating a training program for other volunteers
... Read moreDirector, Farm Animal Welfare, Humane Society International
Chetana Mirle, Ph.D. is the director of HSI’s Farm Animals department. In addition to overseeing HSI’s campaigns against factory farming in India, Brazil, Mexico, and Costa Rica, and helping to build the capacity of local animal protection groups in other emerging economies to fight factory farming, Chetana works with international finance and development agencies to re-direct support away from factory farming, towards more animal-friendly, sustainable, and equitable agricultural systems. Chetana received her Ph.D. from the Agriculture, Food, and Environment program at Tufts University. Her
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President & CEO, The Humane Society of the United States
As President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Wayne Pacelle leads the largest animal protection organization in the United States, with 11 million members and constituents. During his tenure, Pacelle has more than doubled the size of the organization and, through corporate combinations with groups, built unity and greater efficiency within the animal protection cause. He has led successful efforts to pass hundreds of new state and federal laws to protect animals (more than 600 state laws since 2005, and more than 25 federal statutes over the last decade), expanded The
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Managing Director, Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States
Andrew Page has played a central role in numerous successful efforts to protect wild animals and animals raised for their fur. Since joining The HSUS in 2006, Page has led negotiations and corporate campaigns convincing top retailers and designers to reduce or eliminate their use of animal fur. Page has also opened negotiations and dialogue with the leading worldwide luxury design houses previously unreachable by animal protection organizations on fur-related issues. An expert on wildlife protection and animal fur issues, Page has been quoted in major news outlets such as The New York Times, Associated
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Senior Director, Wildlife Public Policy and Advocacy, The Humane Society of the United States
Pheiffer directs the wildlife policy and advocacy team for The Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS focuses its wildlife policy and campaign efforts on three fronts: work on stopping the worst wildlife abuses, such as captive hunting and illegal wildlife poaching, ending wide-spread killing of marine mammals, and stopping the exotic pet and captive wildlife trade.
Equine Protection Specialist, The Humane Society of the United States
Valarie has been an Equine Protection Specialist with The Humane Society of the United States for the last year and a half. At Days End Farm for Horse Rescue, she completed the Equine Cruelty Investigators course. Living in Annapolis, she witnessed the carriage horses working in what she considered inhumane conditions, so she worked to pass legislation to improve their working conditions. She serves on the Board of Directors for Maryland Votes for Animals, a political action committee that focuses on humane legislation i
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Deputy Director, Wildlife. Humane Society International
Rebecca Regnery, MSB is the Deputy Director of Humane Society International’s wildlife department. She is responsible for managing wildlife programs and campaigns and represents the organization at international treaty and agreement meetings. She collaborates with U.S. and foreign governments, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry and consumers to accomplish wildlife conservation and animal welfare goals. She co-chairs the Species Survival Network shark working group and oversees international anti-shark finning policy efforts. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the
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Executive Vice President, Born Free USA
Adam Roberts is the Executive Vice President of Born Free USA, based in Washington, DC, which was started in 2002 to bring the UK-based Born Free Foundation’s message of compassionate conservation to the American public. He began his animal protection and conservation career in Washington in 1991. In addition to directing the Born Free USA office, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Species Survival Network (SSN), a global coalition working on wildlife trade issues under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. He also founded and serves as President
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President, Alley Cat Allies
As president of Alley Cat Allies, Becky Robinson leads the nation’s only advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Co-founded by Robinson in 1990, Alley Cat Allies became the first organization to develop, introduce, and advocate for humane methods of feral cat care, particularly Trap-Neuter-Return, in America. Today, more than 260,000 supporters look to Robinson and Alley Cat Allies as the recognized authority on outdoor cats and a leader in the movement to protect their lives. Robinson found her calling in animal protection after receiving an M.A. in Public
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Maryland Senior State Director, The Humane Society of the United States
Tami Santelli has been with The HSUS since 2006, serving as the director of state legislation prior to becoming The HSUS's Maryland state director in 2011. While in law school, Santelli was an active member of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, worked on the Animal Law Journal and interned for both the Great Ape Project and the D.C. law firm Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal. Santelli has worked to pass new laws on animal cruelty and puppy mills, and serves on a Governor’s appointed task force on spay/neuter issues in Maryland. She holds a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School with a certificate
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Executive Director, South Florida Wildlife Center
Sherry Schlueter was a professional law enforcement officer for nearly 37 years (Broward Sheriff’s Office). She created the first animal cruelty detective unit within a law enforcement agency anywhere, and initiated and helped author the felony animal cruelty bill that became Florida state law in 1989. She created the Special Victims and Family Crimes Section, which included detective units investigating animal, child, elder, and disabled adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation, sex crimes, missing persons, and domestic violence. Lt. Schlueter has provided training nationally and internationally
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Carolyn Schnurr, Federal Legislative Manager
As federal legislative manager, Carolyn focuses on developing strong relationships for the ASPCA in Congress and with agency officials to advance the organization’s federal agenda. Carolyn is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law where she developed her legal expertise in equine issues. Originally from Kentucky, Carolyn relocated to the DC area so she could pursue a career in animal advocacy, and she now happily resides in Maryland with her rescued greyhound, Roo.
Senior Attorney for International Law & Trade, The Humane Society of the United States
Sarah V. Stewart is the Senior Attorney for International Law & Trade in the Animal Protection Litigation Section of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). In this capacity, Ms. Stewart leads the international group, which focuses on the intersection between international law and animal protection. Her work includes litigation before international tribunals, domestic litigation concerning the foreign actions of U.S. based corporations, and advising on international trade law implications of domestic legislation. Ms. Stewart previously worked for Humane Society International (HSI)
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Colorado State Director, The Humane Society of the United States
Holly Tarry is The HSUS's Colorado state director. Before joining The HSUS in June 2007, she managed several departments in animal shelters in Fort Collins and Denver. She played a key role in passing 2008 legislation phasing out cruel gestation and veal crates in Colorado, and she continues to work on puppy mills, canned hunts, prairie dog protection, and many more legislative issues for animals. Tarry earned a B.S. in communications from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.
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Founder, CEO, Dogs Deserve Better, Inc
Tamira Thayne is founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to ending the chaining and penning of dogs, and bringing Man's Best Friend into the home and family. In 2010, Thayne was called the "Godmother of Anti-Tethering" by USA Today. Thayne is author of "Capitol in Chains: 54 Days of the Doghouse Blues," "Scream Like Banshee: 29 Days of Tips and Tales to Keep your Sanity as a Doggie Foster Parent", and co-editor of "Unchain My Heart: DDB Rescue Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Caring."
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Executive Director, GREY2K USA
Since co-founding GREY2K USA with Christine Dorchak in 2001, Carey has been sourced in hundreds of news articles about greyhound racing, and has published guest columns about the industry in the Boston Globe, Rocky Mountain News, Orlando Sentinel, Providence Journal, Tallahassee Democrat, Mobile Register, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Foster’s Daily Democrat, Lowell Sun and Lynn Daily Item.
President and CEO, Certified Shade Technologies
Ellie Trueman is President and CEO of Certified Shade Technologies, a passive cooling and environmental screening company. Trueman’s professional life includes nearly thirty years of marketing, communications and strategic positioning experience. Parallel to her professional life, Trueman has been active in several efforts designed to effect animal legislation including the animal cruelty felony law in MD, the TLC Initiative, (Trapping Legalizes Cruelty) an effort to outlaw leghold trapping in Montgomery County and the creation of an animal support constituency. Trueman resides in Dickerson
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Advocacy Guru, Advocacy Associates
Stephanie D. Vance, author of Government by the People: How to Communicate with Congress, the fabjob.com guide, Get a Job on Capitol Hill, Citizens in Action: A Guide to Influencing Government and The Advocacy Manual has more than 20 years of experience in Congressional affairs. She has worked in a prominent DC law firm, lobbied for National Public Radio and worked in various Congressional offices, holding positions as Legislative Director and Staff Director. Her work on congressional communications stems from a deep and abiding belief that government isn’t broken. She currently travels the country
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Sr. Legislative Attorney, Best Friends Animal Society
Ledy VanKavage is the Senior Legislative Attorney for Best Friends Animal Society and National Manager of Best Friends Animal Society’s Pit Bull Terrier Initiative. Before joining Best Friends, Ledy worked at the ASPCA as Senior Director of Regional Legislative Services. She was a founder of the Madison County Humane Society, the Illinois Federation of Humane Societies and of Operation SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today). She has spearheaded the passage of over 30 animal welfare bills and is the current Chair of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section’s Animal
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Host of HLN's Jane Velez Mitchell
Jane Velez-Mitchell is the host of the self-titled “Jane Velez-Mitchell” on HLN. A veteran television news journalist, Velez-Mitchell reported for the nationally syndicated Warner Brothers/Telepictures show "Celebrity Justice" and regularly served as guest host for HLN’s popular program "Nancy Grace.” As a commentator on high-profile cases, Velez-Mitchell has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and other national cable television programs.
Velez-Mitchell is a New York Times bestselling author of "iWant: My Journey From Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler Honest Life," which chronicles her lifelong battle with alcoholism, as well as her coming out as a lesbian and her discovery of a healthier, happier and more meaningful existence. Her most recent book, “Addict Nation” was released in February 2011.Her first nonfiction book, "Secrets Can Be Murder: What America's Most Sensational Crimes Tell Us About Ourselves," was published by Touchstone, a division of Simon & Schuster. The paperback version appeared in bookstores in
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Captive Wildlife Specialist, The Humane Society of the United Sates
Wathne’s career began at a local animal shelter where she created and implemented the county’s first adoption program. She then worked on numerous campaigns at the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, including the expose of a dog dealer and the relocation of Ivan the gorilla from a department store to Zoo Atlanta. Wathne spearheaded successful efforts to ban leghold traps, bear baiting, and hound hunting of bears and cougars in Washington State, then lobbied to prevent the legislature from overturning the initiatives. After seven years at PETA as a captive exotic animal specialist, Wathne has
... Read moreAssistant Attorney General, Virginia Attorney General's Office
Michelle Welch is an Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. She is the Assistant charged with taking all animal law questions in Virginia. She is called on by agencies all over the Commonwealth to act as a special prosecutor in animal cruelty and animal fighting cases. She has been appointed a special Assistant U.S. Attorney to aid in dogfighting prosecutions. She frequently gives advice to local law enforcement authorities and prosecutors all over Virginia and across the nation.
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David J. Wolfson is a partner in the Global Corporate Group at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. He currently is an adjunct professor at NYU Law School, where he teaches animal law, and at New York University, where he teaches public policy and animal protection. He has previously taught animal law at Cardozo Law School, Columbia Law School, Harvard Law School and Yale Law School. He is the author of a number of articles and chapters on animal protection law, with a focus on farmed animal law, and represents a number of animal protection groups including The Humane Society of the United
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