About the Book
A Voice for Animals: The Social Movement That Provides Dignity and Compassion for Animals. A Voice for Animals is an insightful and informative book about the deep emotional bond that humans share with animals, including the connections and relationships with their beloved pets. It also sheds light on other issues affecting animals, such as homeless pets in shelters and animal cruelty, including the mistreatment of companion animals, as well as other animal species in farming and food industries, and the endangerment of wildlife. It empowers readers with practical tools on finding ways to get involved in positive changes as they are inspired to be a voice for animals. The book is inspiring, uplifting, and filled with hopeful messages, with heartfelt animal rescue stories that touch readers' hearts. It inspires readers to get involved and make positive changes as they are inspired to be a voice for animals. It encourages readers to become more involved in animal protection and join the animal rights movement by taking individual steps such as adopting animals from shelters, going vegan for animals, health, and the planet, and embracing a cruelty-free lifestyle to make a difference.
About Suzana Gartner, J.D., LL.M.
Suzana Gartner, J.D., LL.M. (ADR), is a passionate animal advocate, author, and retired animal rights lawyer. A lifelong champion for animals, she has dedicated her career to giving them a voice through education, law, and public outreach. She is the Founder of the Center for Animal Law Advocacy (CALA), which focuses on raising awareness and providing education on pressing animal issues. Previously, she served as Executive Director of Operations and Programs at the Etobicoke Humane Society and, in 2014, launched Gartner & Associates Animal Law, the first animal law firm and mediation practice in Canada. Her Master of Laws thesis, Reducing Euthanasia in Animal Shelters, explored collaborative and community-based solutions to improve the welfare of shelter animals. Over the years, Suzana has also served as Chair of the Ontario Bar Association's Animal Law Section and as an advisor to Animal Justice, Canada's leading animal law organization. Today, she continues her mission as an author, speaker, and advocate, bringing animal rescue stories, legal insights, and more to audiences across Canada and beyond. Suzana also visits sanctuaries for her YouTube series A Voice for Animals, highlighting stories of resilience and compassion.
What inspired you to write A Voice for Animals, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
I was inspired to start writing my book when my beloved dog, Charlie, passed away. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it created space for reflection. I began writing the book as a way to process that loss. I wanted to honour his memory, and then became aware that I wanted to help other animals. Also, when I started writing the book, my beloved rescue cat, Jackson, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. I wanted to honour his life, too, along with other companion animals, as well as shelter animals that I met along the way. It was a way to share their stories, and it became a bigger cause.
I spent more time volunteering at animal shelters. I saw their personalities, their emotions, and the hope in their eyes to trust humans even when abandoned. Their stories uplifted and motivated me to speak up for them. I witnessed the tragedy of disposable animals due to the current legal system that fails to protect them, as they are considered personal property. Also, through my animal law practice and advocacy work, I learned about animal issues I wanted to write about. My family started visiting animal sanctuaries. We took our two boys with us, and they made the connection that all animal lives matter: whether they are companion animals, farmed animals, or wildlife. Our circle of compassion widened to embrace all animals, and around that time, my husband and I started to embrace veganism as a lifestyle.
I hope readers take away these messages: that animals are individuals, sentient beings, and not objects or disposable. Animals can feel joy, pain, and love; they have unique personalities and interests. Their lives matter. Through storytelling and sharing my journey, I hope to inspire readers to want to speak up for animals. Animals cannot speak up or defend themselves. Small actions create big changes for animals. I hope readers are motivated to get involved in the cause.
Many of the stories in your book are emotional and personal—was there one story in particular that was especially meaningful for you to share?
Yes, many of the stories in my book are emotional and personal. One story, although not
personal, that was especially meaningful, is about a little shelter dog named Peanut. I wrote about her story of survival and becoming a hero in the chapter on the human-animal bond. She was severely abused and abandoned at an animal shelter, but later adopted into a loving home. One bitterly cold winter day, she started barking continuously, which led her human guardian to investigate. Peanut led him to a field where a three-year-old little girl had wandered off, was abused, and left in danger of freezing in the cold. That little girl survived because of Peanut, who saved her life.
It was such a powerful reminder of how much capacity animals still have to love and forgive. Peanut was given a second chance, and she used it to save another life. That story speaks to the resilience of animals and the incredible depth they bring to our lives. It's why I do this work. Your career has spanned animal law, advocacy, and education.
How did your background shape the themes and message of this book?
My background was the personal experiences and journey through animal law and advocacy that shaped the book: to inspire readers to speak up for animals. I wanted to help raise awareness, not just through individual animal law cases but by pushing for legal and systemic change. I wrote my Master of Laws thesis on how legal frameworks and shelter policies could improve live release rates using collaboration, mediation, and community involvement. Around then, while volunteering at a shelter, I met Gucci, an abandoned dog. My mom ended up adopting him. Gucci wasn't just a rescue or shelter animal; he was a loved dog that became a furry family member. That bond solidified my decision to build a career around animal advocacy. Saving that one animal's life was the inspiration to continue to write and inspire others to get involved. When I launched the animal law firm, I aimed to bring animal issues into the legal system and the mainstream. As I wrote the book, these themes emerged: making the connection to animals and the human-animal bonds. At the same time, awakening readers to the disposability of their
lives due to injustices of the legal system, and bringing compassion to the cause. As well, it is the moral obligation of society to treat animals as sentient beings with interests—not property.
For readers who are just discovering this movement, what are some simple first steps they can take to become a "voice for animals" in their own lives?
Start where your heart is. Find out what you are passionate about. Although animal rights can feel overwhelming sometimes, it's important to focus on the cause that you care about the most. For example, if you're passionate about dogs, you can start by volunteering at your local shelter, like I did. You can start to walk the dogs, foster, adopt, or share adoptable dogs online. If you are drawn to policy and advocacy work, you can attend a city council meeting, support campaigns, or join organizations that speak up for animals. If you're interested in lifestyle changes or environmental issues, you can consider making shifts like plant-based eating, using cruelty-free products, and educating yourself on animal issues and the impact of climate change. One small action that readers can take to become a "voice for animals," such as adopting or fostering, can change an animal's life, and it might change their lives, too.
Follow Suzana Gartner on social media to stay tuned to animal advocacy news and tips, animal sanctuary stories, and upcoming book signings.
Instagram: @suzanagartner @avoiceforanimalsorg
YouTube: @avoiceforanimals
