Cruelty-Free: Taking Action for Animals conference

at the Pro Bono Litigation Awards

This past weekend, I attended the Taking Action For Animals conference (TAFA) in Washington DC, hosted by the Humane Society of the United States. I attended for the first time last year, and this year my husband Seth came along, curious to experience first-hand what I was so excited about last July. The beauty of an event like this one is that it brings together animal advocates from all over the country, each of whom has his or her own particular focus when it comes to supporting animals. Last year, I met some truly extraordinary people, and it was great catching up with them again this summer. While

So many animal advocates!

my immediate circle of friends tends to be focused on animal law issues, I was able to connect at the conference with people who are extremely active on the issue of puppy mills, some who focus more on wildlife issues, some who concentrate on farm animals or marine mammals, some involved in law enforcement for companion animals or animal rescue, and a few who are teachers looking to spread compassion through their work with children in the classroom. When all of these people come together, you realize just how many people are out there who care about animal welfare, and how powerful the unified voice can be.

at the Letters to Pushkin table

In addition to attending the conference again, I was inspired this time around to bring Letters To Pushkin into the spotlight, with a table of its own in the Exhibit Hall. It was at this conference last year that Pushkin, our beagle who passed away in February 2009, quietly made his public debut… just a few Letters To Pushkin postcards — a picture of his distinguished profile — posted on the public bulletin board in the hotel lobby. At the time, my husband and I were just getting ready to publish the web site, a free site for those who are coping with the loss of a loved one. For me, LTP is about helping others, taking my own loss and trying to have some good

with HSUS's CEO, Wayne Pacelle

come out of it. Most of all, it’s a way of paying tribute to the huge spirit that came to me in a little beagle body, and who still inspires me each day.  So many people who walked up to our table this past weekend were kind enough to share their own stories of the companion animals who have touched their lives.  But my favorite remark, I admit, was made by a woman who exclaimed, “Peace to Pushkin!”  The spirit we call Pushkin lives on.