Our Hen House Podcast Features Animal Policy Alliance Members

Animal Policy Alliance (APA) members Hannah Truxell (The Humane League’s Senior Policy Counsel) and Natalie Ahwesh (Humane Action Pennsylvania’s Executive Director) recently shared their policy expertise and experiences on the Our Hen House podcast.

In the episode—the first of a six-part series—Truxell and Ahwesh provided actionable guidance, strategic tips, and helpful resources for anyone looking to make a significant difference in the lives of animals raised for food and fur. The episode explored everything from how to build relationships with local legislators to effective animal advocacy communications, leveraging local victories for state-level change to managing different advocacy approaches, and much more.

By working together to pass meaningful legislation, APA member organizations and dedicated advocates around the nation have fought tirelessly to secure critical protections for animals at the local, state, and federal levels—including force-fed product (foie gras) production and sales bans, fur sales bans, and the phasing out of intensive confinement for egg-laying hens, calves raised for veal, and mother pigs.

With Big Ag pushing back against these hard-earned protections, the road ahead is not without its challenges. But Truxell had fortifying words for farmed animal advocates, noting the importance of collective action and incremental wins: “I think in this movement and in this work, what we're up against can feel just insurmountable some days and can feel utterly and completely hopeless. I've certainly felt that myself. But… we certainly believe that at The Humane League and with the Animal Policy Alliance is that if we can start with policies that might seem, you know, relatively small in the grand scheme, it can help build momentum and power and recognition of our members in their communities. Then we can ultimately get to a place where we are matching the power of the animal agriculture industry… with our money, with our people, and really solidly take them on. And I think the most important thing is to have that hope that one day we'll get there.”

For would-be and established organizations looking to join the movement, Truxell recommended contacting the Animal Policy Alliance, which is growing in momentum off a successful year of wins for farmed animals: “If folks are interested in starting a local organization dedicated to policy work for farmed animals or animals raised for fur, we would love to support you through the Animal Policy Alliance.”

And for individuals looking to support these efforts by taking actions? “You can sign up for what we call the Fast Action Network, where it will send you actions every day that you can take from the comfort of your own couch, in your pajamas, in whatever circumstances that work best for you.”

To listen to the episode in full, click here.