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.
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.
We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode’s interview.
_____________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________
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.
Join hostesses Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan on this unique and fun award-winning podcast that focuses on changing the world for animals.
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 …continue
Proudly brought to you by: 31 July 2025
In this week’s Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into the theater of the absurd that is animal agriculture politics. From the Trump administration’s laughable attempt to blame California’s cage-free egg laws for nationwide price hikes (spoiler alert: it’s actually bird …continue
Proudly brought to you by: 29 July 2025
In this compelling episode, Mariann Sullivan speaks with Elise Bennett, Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, about the lawsuit challenging the controversial immigration detention facility in Florida’s Everglades. Bennett details how this hastily constructed center in Big Cypress …continue
Proudly brought to you by: 25 July 2025
