APRL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to protect the rights and habitats of all animals.
Since forming in 2003, APRL has drafted and helped pass animal protection legislation, conducted numerous animal rescues, educated hundreds of thousands of people about humane eating, and won numerous court cases to protect animals and their environment. APRL is based in San Diego, with chapters in Orange County and Lake Tahoe.
Dina is Chair and co-founder for the Orange County chapter of APRL. She coordinates the organization's activities, fundraising, and personally oversees the monthly OC Beach Cleanup. She also speaks about the benefits of veganism and animal rights at animal rights conferences and elementary schools. She is also the co-founder of the Greater Orange County Animal Rights Roundtable (GOCARt). Dina has testified in court and has been a plaintiff against former puppy mill Mission Viejo storefront Barkworks. She received her undergraduate degree in Engineering Geology from UCLA. She is a hydrogeologist and engineering geologist and works in the environmental field helping to clean up and prevent soil and groundwater contamination. She enjoys watching professional international soccer, attending new wave 80's concerts, hiking, traveling, eating great vegan cuisine, and advocating the vegan lifestyle.
Dave is a lawyer and advocate for sustainable consumption. He is author of the book Meatonomics: How the Rigged Economics of Meat and Dairy Make You Consume Too Much, and How to Eat Better, Live Longer, and Spend Smarter (Conari Press, 2013). Among other things, Meatonomics looks at the ways that meat and dairy producers manipulate consumers to consume much more animal foods than they would otherwise. Dave is the founder of the groups Tahoe Herbivores and Meditation and Mindfulness for Vegans, and he serves on the advisory board of the Compassion Consortium. Dave frequently represents animal advocates in lawsuits against animal abusers or the venues that house them. Dave received his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Southern California.
Heather is a health care professional of over 30 years, a patient advocate optimizing pain management without the use of opiates, became vegan in 2009, and protesting ever since! Heather's focus is on animals in so-called entertainment (namely horse racing & rodeos).
Bryan is a California and New York licensed civil rights, environmental, and animal rights attorney based in San Diego and takes on corporations and government agencies to protect the public interest. Bryan received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, where he studied nutrition under Dr. T. Colin Campbell, who authored the famous China Study showing plant based diets protect against chronic degenerative diseases. Bryan has been vegan since 1994 at age 16.
