We call them family—but the law still calls them property.
In this conversation, Suzana Gartner—animal-law mediator, advocate, and author of A Voice for Animals—explains what “pets as property” really means in court, why it fuels shelter disposability, and how practical policy + community action can create a no-kill future.

Most advice stops at “adopt, don’t shop.” Suzana goes deeper—showing how laws, shelter policies, and everyday choices stack up to save lives (or cost them), and how anyone can start making change without burning out.

• Pets = property (for now): how that status affects custody, inheritance, cruelty cases, and shelter outcomes

• What’s working (and where): best-interest standards in some states, no-kill models, and high-impact local policies

• A-CAP in plain English: Suzana’s “Acceptable Companion Animal Philosophy” to cap the killing and rally consensus

• Where to start today: low-lift actions—adopt, foster, volunteer, share, or push for policy—so your effort actually moves the needle

✨ Resources & Guest
Guest: Suzana Gartner — mediator, animal-law advocate, author of A Voice for Animals
Learn more & contact: susannagartner.com (newsletter, blogs, advocacy info)

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the shelter crisis or confused by the legal maze, this episode turns compassion into actionable next steps. Hit play.