The Informed Animal Ally

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The Informed Animal Ally is presented by the Vancouver Humane Society. In this animal ethics podcast, we will share the ins and outs of topics like cruelty, legislation, and advocacy here in B.C. and across Canada. Episodes are released on the final Tuesday of each month. Website: www.vancouverhumane.ca Facebook: Vancouver Humane Society Instagram: vancouverhumane Twitter: @vanhumane Theme music: Jonah’s Message for New York by Doctor Turtle, licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode)

Vancouver Humane Society


    • Apr 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 37 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Informed Animal Ally

    Animals sold in takeout containers? A look at Canada's wildlife trade

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 31:18


    This month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally discusses Canada's exotic pet trade, from breeding or capture to selling and keeping, as well as the laws and loopholes failing to protect animals.Learn more and take action: https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/posts/exotic-animals-wildlife-not-pets/

    Animal welfare in the Canadian food industry with Mercy for Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 30:41


    This month's episode of the Informed Animal Ally welcomes Maha Bazzi to discuss the Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard from Mercy for Animals, which ranks major food companies on their animal welfare performance.

    Animal advocacy around the world: 2024's key trends, wins & roadblocks

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 29:01


    In this month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally, the VHS's Chantelle Archambault and Amy Morris discuss trends in the animal advocacy movement, as well as successes, opportunities, and challenges in Canada and around the world in 2024.

    What is a good life for animals? A look back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 23:44


    This month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally takes a look back through the show's second season, which delved into what good welfare looks like for animals and how we can all help improve animal well-being.

    The importance of research in animal advocacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 21:58


    This month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally discusses how polling, surveys, and reports are used in animal advocacy – to make decisions, measure impacts, and share with the public and policy-makers.

    What it's like to run a farm sanctuary

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 18:17


    This month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally discusses challenges, opportunities, and successes in farm sanctuary work. Featuring The Alice Sanctuary, The Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary, and Kitchensink Rescue Farm & Sanctuary.

    Jenga the giraffe dies at the Greater Vancouver Zoo (The Early Edition)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 7:33


    Emily Pickett from the Vancouver Humane Society discusses the tragic life and death of Jenga the giraffe, who died at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on October 23rd, as well as ongoing welfare concerns at the zoo.

    10 arguments against going vegan (& how to respond)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 32:44


    In this month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally, Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault from the Vancouver Humane Society discuss arguments they've heard opposing veganism and some ways to respond.

    What it's like to run a vegan business

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 11:55


    In this month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally, Kyla and Audrey from Vegan Supply and Paula from Compassion Ink Studio share perspectives on operating a vegan business.

    “Only if we understand can we care”: Education in companion animal organizations with Alistair Schroff

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 14:47


    In this month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally, Alistair Schroff of Lakes Animal Friendship Society discusses the importance of education for animal well-being, and other successes, challenges, and opportunities in animal organizations. lakesanimalfriendship.ca

    8 arguments in support of rodeo & how to respond

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 31:01


    On this month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally, the Vancouver Humane Society's Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault discuss eight of the most common arguments in support of rodeo and ways to respond as an animal ally.

    Real challenges in animal advocacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 42:09


    In this month's episode of The Informed Animal Ally, the Vancouver Humane Society's Amy Morris, Chantelle Archambault, and Emily Pickett discuss challenges commonly experienced in advocacy work, as well as personal experiences shared by listeners.

    Lessons from grassroots animal advocacy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 36:31


    In this month's episode, the Vancouver Humane Society's Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault are joined by special guests Barbara Lapointe and Tessa Vanderkop to discuss lessons from grassroots animal advocacy.

    10 years of animal cruelty investigations with Emily Pickett

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 21:48


    In this month's episode, Vancouver Humane Society Campaign Director Emily Pickett joins Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault to discuss the past decade of farmed animal cruelty investigations in British Columbia.

    How animals touch our lives: Five stories about connection

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 25:15


    Do you remember that one animal who touched your heart in a way that you'll hold dear for a lifetime? In this month's episode of the Informed Animal Ally, the Vancouver Humane Society team and allies discuss animals who have changed their lives.

    What does your relationship with your pet say about you?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 56:13


    In this month's episode, the Vancouver Humane Society's Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault are joined by researchers Dr. Sasha Protopopova and Dr. Camila Cavalli to discuss strategies human-animal bonds.

    Animal cruelty laws in Canada: A look back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 35:20


    This month, take a look back at the first series from The Informed Animal Ally, focussing on animal cruelty laws in Canada. You can find all blog posts associated with these episodes at www.vancouverhumane.ca/podcasts.

    Coping with burnout as an animal ally with Kimberly Carroll

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 51:49


    In this month's episode, the Vancouver Humane Society's Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault are joined by Kimberly Carroll from Animal Justice to discuss strategies to cope with burnout and overwhelm as an advocate.

    Caring for pets in a financial crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 42:21


    This month, the Vancouver Humane Society's Brooklyn Fowler-Moros joins Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault to discuss the resources in place to support companion animals and their guardians who are living on a low income.

    Is it easy to go vegan?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 30:58


    In this month's episode, the Vancouver Humane Society's Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault are joined by Danielle George to discuss healthism and ableism in the plant-based discussion, and making plant-based accessible to all.

    go vegan amy morris danielle george
    Are rodeos obsolete?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 28:03


    In this month's episode, the Vancouver Humane Society is joined by guest Samantha Fuller to discuss how animals are impacted by rodeo, public response to rodeo events, and the future of rodeo.

    obsolete rodeos samantha fuller
    Will plant-based become the norm?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 27:30


    In this month's episode, the Vancouver Humane Society's Amy Morris and Chantelle Archambault delve into a recent project from the VHS to determine what people in British Columbia's Lower Mainland think of plant-based eating and to share the benefits.

    How you can help wild animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 26:52


    In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally's series on animal well-being, the VHS's Chantelle Archambault and Amy Morris discuss the ways human activities impact wildlife and how you can help.

    Do pigs really like mud? And other farmed animal behaviours

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 23:00


    In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally's series on animal well-being, the VHS's Chantelle Archambault and Amy Morris discuss the natural behaviours and needs of farmed animals like pigs, chickens, cows, and sheep.

    How to train your dog or cat

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 31:21


    In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally's series on animal well-being, the VHS's Chantelle Archambault and Amy Morris discuss science-backed training techniques for any species of animal, from dogs and cats to horses to birds and hamsters.

    Is my pet happy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 41:16


    In this first episode of The Informed Animal Ally's series on animal well-being, the VHS's Chantelle Archambault and Amy Morris discuss companion animal behaviour, emotional "tells", and the many facets that make up a good life for domestic cats and dogs.

    Who ensures cruelty laws are followed?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 25:41


    In the final episode of The Informed Animal Ally's series on animal cruelty, the VHS's Chantelle Archambault and Amy Morris discuss the processes in place to enfore laws and regulations intended to protect animals from suffering.

    Live horse exports with Sinikka Crosland

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 16:35


    Every few weeks, shipments of gentle draft horses are packed three or four to a crate and loaded onto planes for the long, stressful journey overseas for slaughter. Horses shipped for slaughter can go 28 hours without food, water, or rest; they can fall during takeoff or landing; and receiving countries have no obligation to report back to Canada on the conditions of horses once they arrive. Organizations and advocates both here in Canada and abroad have shared opposition to live horse export, import, and slaughter. To tell us more about this industry, we're honoured to welcome a leader in this advocacy work, Sinikka Crosland.

    Adapting to the holidays as a vegan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 11:32


    More and more people are adding compassion to their festive meals by opting out of animal-based products and ingredients. In this episode Amy and Chantelle discuss their experiences adapting to the holidays after going vegan.

    Animals used in research, teaching, and testing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 27:45


    There are many different uses of animals in science, ranging from noninvasive research to tests that cause some of the worst suffering animals endure. This episode explores the use of animals in research, testing, and teaching.

    Animal captivity laws with Rob Laidlaw

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 51:57


    In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally, animal advocate, award-winning writer, and Zoocheck founder Rob Laidlaw joins the Vancouver Humane Society to discuss the issues wild animals face in captivity and what can be done to help them.

    laws animal captivity rob laidlaw zoocheck
    Wildlife cruelty laws with Erin Ryan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 30:11


    Wild animals think, feel, play, grow together, have families, and help maintain a healthy and harmonious environment; yet many human activities put wildlife at unnecessary risk of suffering. In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally, the Vancouver Humane Society is joined by Erin Ryan of the BC SPCA to discuss wildlife laws, stewardship, and advocacy.

    "Dangerous dog" laws with Rebeka Breder

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2022 48:42


    The Vancouver Humane Society is joined by special guest Rebeka Breder in this episode on "dangerous dog laws" and what they mean for dogs and dog guardians.

    Fish cruelty laws

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 23:02


    Fishes are often overlooked in animal protection laws and discussions. In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally, Amy and Chantelle discuss fish protection laws in Canada.

    Farmed animal cruelty laws

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 37:39


    Industrial animal agriculture has been called the biggest animal welfare crisis on the planet. In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally, Amy and Chantelle explore the practices and laws that impact the suffering of these animals throughout their lives.

    Companion animal cruelty laws

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 37:27


    Millions of pet guardians across Canada consider our furry friends to be part of the family; but what happens when companion animals are the victims of cruelty? In this episode of The Informed Animal Ally, Amy and Chantelle from the Vancouver Humane Society explore companion animal cruelty, laws, and advocacy.

    Introducing The Informed Animal Ally

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 1:11


    Introducing The Informed Animal Ally, presented by the Vancouver Humane Society. In this animal ethics podcast, we will share the ins and outs of topics like cruelty, legislation, and advocacy here in B.C. and across Canada.

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