Webinars
Join Life of Riley at Spring Point for New Perspectives: Human-Animal Connection and Advocacy, a free webinar series designed to strengthen our collaborative efforts to end puppy mills and other forms of animal cruelty.
Webinars
Life of Riley’s partners are dedicated to making the world a better and more caring place for animals. But they need your support to create a future where animals are free from harm and in loving homes.
We recognize that puppy mill rescues and advocacy groups are already skilled in the direct rescue and care of animals, as well as in passing legislation, pursuing litigation and the prosecution of animal crimes, and other legal techniques to protect the welfare of breeding dogs. This webinar series aims to complement existing skills, resources, and knowledge by introducing new perspectives, research and advocacy tools from other social justice movements, and discussing how learnings from different sectors might inform efforts to end puppy mills and other forms of animal cruelty.
Upcoming Events
Leveraging State and Local Policy to Create Pet-Inclusive Housing
August 6th @ 2:00-3:00pm ET
Pet-inclusive housing helps keep people and pets together — and is especially important for lower-income families, who are too often forced to choose between keeping their pets and securing stable housing. Join us on August 6th to learn more about the growing movement for pet-inclusive housing and how one powerful policy tool — the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program — can help advance pet-inclusive housing policies at the state and local level.
The discussion will be led by Adam Gordon of Fair Share Housing Center and Ross Barker, Program Director of the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative and Policy Advisor for the Michelson Center for Public Policy. Together, they will explore efforts underway in California and other states to advance pet-inclusive housing, examine how LIHTC and similar programs have been used to drive policy change, and discuss opportunities to promote more inclusive housing policies that support housing stability for people with pets.
Recent Events
NOTE: The video content below is the property of Spring Point Partners. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the organization. The video content may be shared in its entirety through Spring Point’s YouTube channel. Reproduction, alteration, or distribution in any other form is prohibited without written permission. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Breeder Categories: A Framework for Clarity, Alignment, and Industry Dialogue
May 21, 2026
The U.S. dog breeding landscape is often discussed as if it were a single, uniform system. In practice, it is composed of multiple distinct groups that operate under different motivations, information, beliefs, and standards.
This presentation dives deeper into the breeder category framework JVR Strategies first introduced during Life of Riley’s virtual conference in October 2025. The framework organizes breeders into several categories and offers one way to describe these groups, helping bring greater clarity and alignment to conversations about the breeding landscape. Participants will explore the defining characteristics of each breeder category, the variation that exists within them, and how recognizing these distinctions can inform conversations about policy, market engagement, and efforts to improve standards of care. The session will also examine practical strategies for engaging different segments of the breeding landscape.
Challenging our assumption: The intersection of storytelling and data
March 18th, 2026
Speaker: Gretchen Mielke, Ed.D, Spring Point Partners
Paw-sitive Progress: Collaborations Across Complexity in Animal Advocacy
October 21-23, 2025
Life of Riley’s first fully interactive virtual conference was designed to create even more space for diverse stakeholders to build bridges, explore nuances, and create a better world for animals together. Participants showed up ready to learn, contribute, and form new relationships over three half-days of active conversation, deep engagement, and pet-friendly fun.
Thursday, August 12th:
- Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson, Owner and Principal Consultant
- Ross Mauck, Consultant & Senior Data Analyst
Inclusion as a Solution to Animal Welfare Challenges Associated with Dog Breeding
Thursday, July 10th
Speakers from
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE):
- James Evans, Founder & CEO
- Sloane Hawes, Chief of Research & Development
- Celeste Morales, Senior Director of Research & Development
Systems Change and Collaboration in Animal Welfare
Thursday, April 3rd
Speakers:
- Gerardo Marquez,
Reos Partners
One Health in Action: A Discussion of Collaborative Strategies for Healthier People, Pets, and Communities
Thursday, February 27th
Speakers:
- Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach – Open Door Veterinary Collective (ODVC), Moderator
- Brianna Kaufman – Humane Health Coalition of Pittsburgh
- Vickie Ramirez – University of Washington One Health Research Center and Clinic
- Geraldine D’Silva – Maddies® National Director of Programs and Partnerships, Open Door Veterinary Collective
An Introduction to the Canine Care Certified program
Essential Messaging for Work in Animal Care & Well-being
Thursday, December 5th
- Hanna Lentz
Executive Director, Supporting People and Animal Relationships for Change
From Horror to Hope: An Anti Puppy Mill Advocate’s Eye Opening Journey Inside of USDA Kennels
September 2024
- Mindi Callison & Alexis Bell
Bailing out Benji
Breeding dogs for Profit in Urban Communities: Socioeconomic Causes and the Community-led Solutions
Thursday, July 11, 2024
- Tim Freeman
Braveheart Pets Inc.
Invisible Advocates: How the Social Justice Movement Influences Animal Advocacy
Thursday, April 25, 2024
- Akisha Townsend Eaton & Aline Silva
Companions and Animals for Reform & Equity (CARE)
Community-based Animal Protection
Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Natalie Ahwesh, Shannon Dickerson, Dr. Darrell Payne
Humane Action Pittsburgh (HAP)
Access to Care Includes Access to Dignity: The Positive Impact of Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion (or REDI) Training on Vets, Shelters and People”
Thursday, February 8, 2024
- Dr. Azalia Boyd, Alina M. Luna, Ph.D., Dr. Raye Taylor, James Evans
Companions and Animals for Reform & Equity (CARE)