Episode 83: “Lots of people talk to animals… Not very many listen, though… That’s the problem.”

Welcome to the 83^rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Jo-Anne McArthur of We Animals, Karol Orzechowski of Maximum Tolerated Dose, with special guests Jessica Almy of VegBooks, and our very own Hollywood correspondent, Ari Solomon.

In today’s episode, we come to you from Toronto, where we are eating our way through this glorious, and oh-so-vegan-friendly, Canadian city. We will tell you all about our experiences filming a video that will be all about vegan Toronto, and we’ll give you an update on the happenings of the Animal Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s TIPS section.

Photo by Jo-Anne McArthur of We Animals (www.weanimals.org). According to We Animals, “This cub had been rescued by the Animals Asia Foundation two days before the photo was taken. He seems to be enjoying his new room and “hammock”. Vietnam, 2008.”

Joining us today are Toronto activists, Jo-Anne McArthur and Karol Orzechowski. Jo-Anne will give us the skinny on her project, We Animals, which documents, through photography, animals in the human environment. Karol will tell us all about his new feature length film that is currently in production, entitled Maximum Tolerated Dose, which explores animal experimentation by speaking with people who have previously been experimenters or lab technicians, and by telling the stories of animals who have seen both sides of the cage.

For our review, our Hollywood correspondent, Ari Solomon, will give us the animal rights take on The Rise of the Planet of the Apes. You won’t want to miss this review (or this film).

All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. As a bonus, special guest Jessica Almy (of VegBooks, among other things) will join us for our news section.

This week’s news items include:

• “Whoa There: BLM Cancels Wyoming Wild Horse Roundup Plan” from The Atlantic 
• “Peru has banned wild animals in circuses” from Animal Defenders International
• “Vegan chain takes root in Chicago” from The Chicago Tribune
• “Going Vegan With Ellen” from The Ellen Degeneres Show
• “Jail Time Yields a Clash on Vegetarian Meals” from The New York Times
• “Stop Using Chimps as Guinea Pigs” from The New York Times
• “How a Billionaire’s Wife Is Becoming the Mustang’s Messiah” from Time Magazine 

“Lots of people talk to animals… Not very many listen, though… That’s the problem.” -Benjamin Hoff from The Tao of Pooh

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Photo at top of blog: By Jo-Anne McArthur of We Animals. “Street dog, Chile, 2005”