More than 1,000 advocates traveled to Arlington, Va. last weekend to attend The HSUS’s Taking Action for Animals. It was the fifth annual TAFA conference and perhaps our best to date—Wayne Pacelle of HSUS has captured ten highlights here. And if any attendees have thoughts, he’d love to hear about your favorite TAFA moments.

1. The first annual Taking Action for Animals Tweetup—a face-to-face meet-up for conference attendees who use the social networking and microblogging service Twitter—and a robust discussion throughout the conference via “tweets.”
2. Special screenings and sneak previews of “Little Miss Dewie,” “The Tiger Next Door,” and “A Sealed Fate?” at TAFA Theater.
3. The presentation of the first Veterinary Student Advocacy Award from the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association to recent Oklahoma State University graduate Sarah Gordon, for her work to stop the use of live animals in terminal surgeries at the school.

© The HSUS/Riley
Actress Ginnifer Goodwin.

1. A reading of comedian and author Carol Leifer’s five lessons of animal adoption from her new book “When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists Win,” including “It all changes in the car” and “Fostering a dog is only a heartstring away from adopting, so make the decision carefully.”
2. A play-by-play cooking demonstration, guiding you through a quinoa, avocado and sweet potato timbale with roasted tomatillo dressing and pine nut and chive seared Gardein “chicken” with mushroom beurre blanc sauce. Plus a delicious conference menu.
3. Archival home video footage of a 4-year-old Ginnifer Goodwin protecting a caterpillar, shouting “Don’t hurt my friend!” to her little sister. (You can catch a hint of the actress’s love for animals in this short chat between her and Wayne.)
4. The names of Rep. Jim Moran’s (D-Va.) five cows—Lucy, Ricky, Ethel, Fred and Little Ricky—and a confession from Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) that he often answers the phone at his Congressional office, taking callers by surprise.
5. A free copy of Nellie McKay’s latest CD, “Obligatory Villagers,” a sneak preview performance from her upcoming Doris Day-inspired album, and an up-close look at her chewed shoes, gnawed on by her two recently adopted pit bulls.

© The HSUS/Riley

1. A rally and Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, with hundreds of advocates putting their newly learned skills to work—the culmination of three days of training and more than 32 workshops.
2. The chance to win a Flip video camera, get creative with colored markers, cuddle with Karen Dawn’s two dogs Paula and Buster, compare faux fur and real fur under a microscope at The HSUS’s Fur-Free Campaign booth, snack on baked goods, and compete for Bingo prizes—plus much more—in the biggest exhibit hall yet.

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