Protecting “Feral” Cats: A Law and Policy Discussion

Richard Angelo, Jr., is a legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society. Focusing on Best Friends’ community cat initiatives, Richard promotes legislation that will humanely and directly reduce the killing of cats in shelters across the country. He was previously a sole practitioner with an office in Davison, Michigan, focusing on companion animal–related matters and litigation, including dangerous dog matters, alternatives to breed-specific legislation, ownership disputes about companion animals, and zoning and ordinance violations regarding companion animals.

He has been a member of the animal law section of the State Bar of Michigan and has served as a council member of that section since 2009. He is also a member of the National Animal Care and Control Association, the American Bar Association, the TIPS Animal Law Committee, and the newly formed Animal Law Committee or the International Law Section. In addition to his work for Best Friends, Richard volunteers at his local animal control shelter and several other animal welfare organizations in Michigan. Richard resides in Goodrich, Michigan, with his wife, four dogs and three cats.

Peter J. Wolf joined Best Friends in May 2013 as the organization’s cat initiatives analyst, bringing a research-oriented emphasis to a range of communications- and policy-related projects. Peter is also the founder of Vox Felina, a blog featuring in-depth analysis of science and policy issues related to the management of free-roaming cats in general and TNR in particular. Over the past six years, Vox Felina has attracted a devoted audience of community cat advocates and has become an invaluable resource for journalists.

Peter holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial design. His professional experience includes 12 years in the automotive engineering field and nine years teaching in The Design School at Arizona State University. Peter sits on the board of directors of FixNation, one of the country’s most highly regarded low-cost spay/neuter clinics. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with a houseful of rescued cats.