Law: The Surprising World of American Animal Festivals

From the Iditarod Dogsled Race to Groundhog Day, from rattlesnake hunts to frog jumping contests, and from camel races to butterfly parades, humans across the country use animals to say something about ourselves, our communities, and our history. But why? What value do these animal festivals and their rituals hold, and why, when animals are in distress, do we insist that the show must go on? In the forthcoming book Forget the Camel: The Madcap World of Animal Festivals and What They Say About Being Human, lawyer and animal advocate Elizabeth MeLampy explores how these spectacles—where animals become both unwitting performers and powerful symbols—illuminate the complex intersection of animal welfare and cultural tradition.

During this talk, MeLampy will share stories about the groundhogs, butterflies, rattlesnakes, lobsters, sled dogs, and other creatures she met during her research. She will also discuss how traditions and rituals can reinforce deeply ingrained paradigms for how we treat animals, and how we might move towards a more compassionate future where animals are not deployed as symbols to tell our human stories. 

Lunch will be provided! Please register here.