Vermont Law and Graduate School is excited to welcome two Animal Law Media Fellows to participate in the Environmental Law Center’s summer session this year. Over the second term, Kenny Torrella will audit Animal Welfare Law with professors Dr. Heather Rally and Mary Hollingsworth. This two-week survey course—one of many animal law and policy courses offered this summer—examines the role of law in understanding and reforming the relationship between humans and animals, and improving the condition of animals maintained for human profit and entertainment. Students in the class will come away with an understanding of the role of legal institutions and regimes in promoting animal welfare, and how they are, and are not, working—and what to do about it.  

We are honored Kenny is sharing his extensive knowledge and expertise as a long-time animal advocate and reporter, connecting with other media fellows, and learning more about the animal law program at VLGS. He is a staff writer for Vox’s Future Perfect section, with a focus on animal welfare and the future of meat. He’s also the author of Meat/Less, a Vox newsletter designed to help readers incorporate more plant-based food into their diets. Prior to joining Vox, he worked in communications and public policy at animal welfare nonprofits, and his writing on animal welfare has appeared in Fortune, Conscious Company, GreenBiz, and The Independent.

In addition to learning, networking, and enjoying beautiful Vermont, Kenny will participate in the Environmental Law Center’s Hot Topics series. Lectures can be viewed live at vermontlaw.edu/live, and will be recorded. Kenny's provocative talk, “The Case Against Pet Ownership" will take place at 12:00 ET on Thursday, June 29. 

The VLGS Animal Law and Policy Institute is grateful to the American Society of the Prevention for Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), whose generous support makes our Animal Law Media Fellowships possible.