Episode 112: “It is now life and not art that requires the willing suspension of disbelief.”

Welcome to the 112^th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Patty Shenker, Nathan Runkle, and Kim Sturla. 

In today’s episode, we come to you from Los Angeles, where Mariann was a judge in the Lewis & Clark Animal Law Moot Court, held this year at UCLA. When we weren’t in that neck of Tinseltown, we were eating our way through this delicious city, and we’ll tell you all about it. We also got to catch up with some incredible movers and shakers who are heavily involved in all things animal rights.

One such person was longtime activist Patty Shenker, who will be our feature interview today. Patty will talk to us about her work with Animal Rescue Corps, and the importance of rescue work. She’ll let us in on such items as: the resource she co-created, FreeAnimalVideo.org, her trip to visit Birute Galdikas, the role of sanctuary in the animal protection movement, and a new play she’ll be performing in that is a take-off of the Vagina Monologues.

We have a couple of special guests joining us for our news section, too. First, we’ll be joined by Kim Sturla, founder of Animal Place, who will tell us about the over four thousand hens they rescued and took in at the biggest farmed animal rescue in California’s history. We’ll also talk to Mercy for Animals’ Executive Director, Nathan Runkle, who will shed light on the recent turn of events regarding Iowa’s ag-gag law.

For our review, Our Hen House’s Hollywood correspondent, Ari Solomon, will give us his take on the new movie, Big Miracle. That will launch us into a discussion about animal actors.

All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.

This week’s news items include:

• “Largest California Farm Animal Rescue — Inside A&L Egg Farm” from Animal Place
• “‘Ag gag bill’ to governor; opponents fear effects” from DesMoinesRegister.com
• “Shame on Iowa: Governor Signs Ag-Gag Bill to Protect Animal Abusers” from The MFA Blog
• “Broad Spectrum of National Interest Groups Sign On to Oppose ‘Ag-Gag’ Laws That Seek to Ban Farm Investigations” from Bradenton Herald 
• “The Most Sweeping Anti-Cruelty Policy in the Food Service Industry” from The Atlantic
• “Scientists lobby for dolphin, whale ‘bill of rights’” from Cape Cod Times
• “The PR Man Behind the Oscar Night Anti-Humane Society Slam” from Mother Jones
• “Best of New York: Dun-Well of East Williamsburg takes the honors for Best Doughnuts” from NY Daily News

“It is now life and not art that requires the willing suspension of disbelief.” -Lionel Trilling

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