We recently connected with Jenny Canham and have shared our conversation below.

Jenny, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I’m lucky enough to be able to work on many meaningful projects that are making a difference for animals, humans and the planet. I’m really excited to have just launched the “Animal Outlook Network” – a unique training and action website for animal advocates, providing people with science-backed tools and courses to help them take impactful actions for animals.

This has been particularly meaningful because it’s a unique contribution to the animal protection movement. During several years of research and development, Animal Outlook collaborated on research projects working with Yale Environmental Protection Clinic and the Center for Public Interest Communications at the University of Florida. The research summarized how to use science-backed frameworks and methods to influence behavior change, and applied it to engaging with people to inspire more people to eat vegan. Applying the science of behavior change to animal advocacy is the core part of the Animal Outlook Network.

I’m thrilled to be able to share this new platform with the world. It makes taking action for animals simple and effective, and because it’s based on behavior change strategy, it’s helping people to use their time efficiently to make the most difference for animals with the time they have to do outreach. For example, did you know that one person eating vegan saves approximately one animal life, 1,100 gallons of water, and 30 square feet of forest every single day? With this in mind, just imagine how many animals we could save if everyone went vegan for a week, or longer. This is the premise behind the “VegPledge,” one of Animal Outlook’s campaigns that is part of the Animal Outlook Network, where people can pledge to eat vegan for a week or more.

Every year in April, we have a focused effort publicizing the VegPledge during “VegWeek.” During this year’s VegWeek, we secured around 3,000 pledges from members of the public who committed to trying vegan for a week or more or, if they are already vegan, to encourage someone else to take the same pledge. We also worked with the Animal Welfare Alliance at UCLA to secure around 200 VegPledges from UCLA students alongside giving away free vegan donuts.

The VegPledge is just one of the tools we have to help grow veganism as a way of taking action for animals that is currently available on the Animal Outlook Network. People can also take actions like contacting their city council and calling for a proclamation in support of VegWeek. This year, I was presented with a proclamation made by Alameda County in California and some of our volunteers have individually secured proclamations from cities such as Palm Springs. This just shows how one persons’ actions can really make a difference.

I’d encourage anyone looking to do something positive for animals to join the Animal Outlook Network. After signing up, people can learn about the key issues with animal agriculture, and then learn about behavior change principles that they can incorporate into their conversations. At the Action Center, advocates can take simple, online actions aimed at growing the number of people leaving animals off their plates.

You can learn more by visiting animaloutlooknetwork.com.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a non-profit professional with over a decade of experience in global animal protection. I initially completed my National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Diploma in Journalism in the UK and started out by writing articles about key issues that affect animals around the world. Because farmed animals suffer in the highest numbers (it’s estimated that around 10 billion animals are killed for food every year in the U.S. alone), I decided to focus my efforts on this area, and soon began broadening my work to lead campaigns to help protect farmed animals.

Over the past few years I’ve had the privilege to work on so many important campaigns in animal protection. Some have been won, and some are still ongoing. For example, the U.K. recently announced a ban on live animal exports (animals being transported overseas in long, agonizing journeys to be slaughtered for food), which is a campaign I was involved in for several years. I’m also particularly proud of my work to gain stronger legal protections for fish in the U.K. and last year I was a finalist in the Sheila McKechnie Foundation “National Campaigner of the Year Awards” for my work securing mandatory inspections as a legal requirement for fish for the first time in Scotland. Fish are so often forgotten, even though there is overwhelming scientific consensus that they feel pain and can suffer, much like all animals. So wins like this are incredibly important in terms of changing how society views animals, and I hope that other countries will follow suit and introduce similar measures.

Globally, I’m glad to see there is more happening to stand up for animals who are so often forgotten, but there is still so much work to be done. For example, Animal Outlook is currently carrying out a lawsuit following its investigation into Cooke Aquaculture’s salmon hatchery in Bingham, Maine, the first-ever undercover investigation of salmon aquaculture in the United States. Actions like this are really important to show that extreme animal suffering won’t be ignored.

I always ask myself, “how can I make the most impact?” and this led me to my position at Animal Outlook. My current work focuses on empowering others to eat vegan as a way of taking action, as by doing so – we are having a positive impact for animals, humans and the planet. In terms of the daily difference we can all make as individuals, eating vegan is actively voting against cruel practices that cause extensive suffering.

With the launch of the Animal Outlook Network, I hope that more people will get involved in animal advocacy and that this proves to be a useful resource. I think it’s a great way to become involved in a social justice movement, and for me – speaking up about issues I care about helps me to feel more connected with the world, and more aware about the impact my actions can have.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Animal Outlook’s mission is to strategically challenge animal agribusiness through undercover investigations, legal advocacy, corporate and food system reform, and disseminating information about the many harms of animal agriculture, empowering everyone to choose vegan.

The Outreach and Engagement Program works to achieve this mission by empowering everyone to choose vegan as a powerful way of taking action for animals.

It only takes looking at the news for a few minutes to see how desperately we need change in so many areas, and it can feel overwhelming and daunting thinking about where to start to try to make the world a better place. But the truth is, we have power with the decisions we make every day. By looking at our own choices, such as what we eat, we can take responsibility and choose to make a positive impact for animals, humans, and the planet.

This is particularly important to me because I’m a huge animal lover. Ever since I was a child, I always loved the cats and dogs who lived in my family home. I remember one particular day when I was 11 years old; I was eating a burger at a fast-food restaurant that was a little more raw than I was used to, and I got thinking about what (or who) I was actually eating. I realized that this animal would have had their own life, which was ended – all so that I could be eating this burger. I went home and looked my dog in the eyes, and I realized I could not support this needless killing of animals any longer. I never ate meat again.

Years later, I came to a similar realization about the other animal products I was eating, such as eggs, milk, and cheese. I looked into where these products came from, and found that there was still an enormous amount of suffering involved. For example, to produce milk at the rate that our society currently demands, female cows are constantly impregnated, and their babies are taken away from them so that humans can drink their milk instead. They often cry out for their babies, which is absolutely heartbreaking. Yet, the cycle continues time and time again, until they are what the industry calls “spent”, at which point they are slaughtered and their battered bodies are often used in fast-food or pet food. I realized that supporting the egg and dairy industries was still supporting the torture and killing of animals, so I couldn’t eat these products any more.

I now focus on sharing this information with others so that they are able to make informed decisions about their food choices. Working on projects like the Animal Outlook Network is helping to spread this message far and wide through creating and training impactful animal advocates, so that’s why I’m so passionate about the work I do.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I write monthly emails to a list of over 1,000 volunteers and share opportunities to take meaningful actions for animals. This can be as simple as signing a petition, or leaving a card at a restaurant to thank them for offering vegan options, or more involved such as writing to your local government. We always provide detailed guidance to make these actions as easy as possible. Our advocacy actions are focused around vegan eating, as we believe this is the most powerful way people can help to save animals.

I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from volunteers who have enjoyed taking meaningful actions for animals that are really making a difference.

For example, one of our volunteers was recently able to secure a proclamation from their local City Council in support of “VegWeek” – this is a really important action that authorities can take to show they care about animals, humans, and the planet. Here’s what this particular volunteer had to say about their achievement:

“I’m delighted that I have secured the important achievement of a VegWeek Proclamation from my city and I’m grateful to the City of Palm Springs for endorsing Animal Outlook’s VegWeek, an important action that will make a real difference for animals by encouraging others to try vegan. Thanks to Animal Outlook for always giving me the tools to take impactful actions to help animals.”

By signing up to the Animal Outlook Network and completing the free training courses available, advocates can also earn points and be in with a chance of winning prizes from vegan companies. This is an extra bonus and another way we show appreciation for those who are taking action for animals.

Our work wouldn’t be possible without compassionate people using their voices to speak up for those who so often go unheard, and I’m incredibly grateful for every single person who is advocating for our animal friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://animaloutlook.org/
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalOutlook
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animaloutlook/
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• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnimalOutlook

Image Credits

Animal Outlook