On April 29, 2017, Catskill Animal Sanctuary hosted a panel of experts at New York University for a discussion examining the importance of litigation, legislation, sanctuary education, and boots on the ground activism and how each is changing the way the world is interacting with animals.

Panelists
Steven M. Wise is founder and president of The Nonhuman Rights Project. He has practiced animal protection law for 30 years throughout the US and is the author of four books: Rattling the Cage – Toward Legal Rights for Animals; Drawing the Line – Science and the Case for Animal Rights; Though the Heavens May Fall – The Landmark Trial That Led to the End of Human Slavery; and An American Trilogy – Death, Slavery, and Dominion Along the Banks of the Cape Fear River. He holds a J.D. from Boston University Law School and a B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary.

Damien Mander is the Founder & CEO of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation. Damien is a soldier turned anti-poaching crusader. A vegan, he resides with his wife Maria and son Leo in Southern Africa bush. After serving in the Australian Defense Force, Damien founded the IAPF to focus on ranger training, operations and integrating modern technology such as drones into conservation.

Kathy Stevens is the founder and executive director of Catskill Animal Sanctuary. She is the author of two acclaimed books, Where the Blind Horse Sings and its sequel, Animal Camp.

Moderator
Nora Constance Marino is a litigation attorney and an animal rights activist. She is the lead attorney for the lawsuit "The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos against the City of New York", a lawsuit which seeks to compel the NYPD to enforce the laws that are violated during a religious ritual wherein chickens are slaughtered by the thousands. In 2014, Nora Constance formed the Animal Cruelty Exposure Fund, a not-for-profit organization that exposes images of animal cruelty through mainstream media. ACEF is currently running its fourth TV commercial, which is airing in New York City on CNN and NY1, and is also airing in North Carolina on CNN. ACEF has also aired commercials in Los Angeles and Dallas.

Thanks to the NYU Animal Welfare Collective for their assistance organizing the evening.