In this episode we examine the development of animal rights in Kurdistan and Iraq with Ashti Falakadin, who is an animal rights activist based out or Erbil. In the past ten years, the culture of pets has shifted dramatically in the region, as has the treatment of livestock and working animals. Falakadin has been on the forefront of advocacy, now helping to draft legislation protecting animals. In our conversation we discuss the differences between animal abuse in the West and the Middle East, as well as the culture of dog fighting and smuggling that remained present in Kurdistan despite heightened awareness and support for animal protection in the region.