Animals in zoos, live animal mascots, service animals, pets, animal food products, and cultured tissues for meat: topics that have stirred national controversy, triggered demonstrations, instigated fundraising campaigns, and elicited mixed reactions on university campuses. The LSU Faculty Senate, the LSU Office of Academic Affairs, and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine invite both the public and the LSU community to join us for “Animals in Society,” featuring vigorous discussion of these challenging public issues. The forum will consist of brief presentations by national and local experts in human- animal interactions followed by audience questions. Exploring all aspects of this topic, from fundamental ethical issues to the keeping of live mascots to the role and needs of companion animals to the use of livestock for food, the forum will give everyone a unique opportunity to interface with the experts about all facets of animal-society interactions!

Moderator:

Jim Engster, WRKF's "Talk Louisiana"

Panel:

Bernard Rollin, University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University, is internationally renowned in animal rights and ethics issues, having published more than 10 books on those topics. He is the University Bioethicist and a Professor of Philosophy, Animal Sciences, Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State. He obtained his Ph.D. from Columbia University.

David Baker, is the caretaker of LSU's live tiger mascot and Professor of Laboratory Animal Medicine in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. His areas of research are parasitic and other infectious diseases. His D.V.M. and Ph.D. are from the University of California.

Collette Kaster, Executive Director of the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization

Ashley Delrie, Louisiana Animal Control Advisory Task Force