Turning animal emergency care into policy action
Five years in emergency veterinary medicine taught Makenna Trapani that care alone can’t fix broken systems. In this episode, Martina talks to Makenna about how that realization led her out of the clinic and into public policy, including the internship that sparked her interest in legislative work and public service. The conversation follows her transition from vet tech to Government Affairs Associate in Arizona, how experiences with animals, including a manta ray encounter in Hawaii, helped shape her perspective, and what it actually takes to turn concern into law, from coalition-building to the persistence required when change doesn’t happen on the first attempt.
Watch the episode below, watch it on YouTube for clickable chapters/timestamps - or scroll down for a full summary and additional resources.
Episode summary
Makenna Trapani began her career in emergency veterinary medicine, working long shifts in high-pressure situations where animals and their families depended on immediate care. Over time, she noticed a pattern: no matter how dedicated the clinicians were, outcomes were often shaped by systemic limits beyond the exam room. Those experiences pushed her to ask bigger questions about responsibility, access, and where real change could happen.
That curiosity led her to shift her academic focus to sociology and, eventually, to an internship with the Arizona legislature. What started as an opportunity to observe quickly became a turning point. Working as a Senate staff intern exposed her to the mechanics of lawmaking and showed her how policy shapes real-world outcomes for animals, people, and communities. It also sparked a clear sense that public service, rather than clinical work, was where she could be most effective.
Martina and Makenna talk through what her role as a Government Affairs Associate actually involves day-to-day. From drafting legislation and working with attorneys to meeting lawmakers, building stakeholder coalitions, and responding to opposition, the job is equal parts strategy, communication, and persistence. Makenna explains how bills move through committees and chambers, how amendments are negotiated, and why timing can make or break a piece of legislation.
A central part of the conversation focuses on a two-year effort to pass animal neglect legislation in Arizona. Makenna walks through why the bill didn’t pass in its first session, what “missing the window” means, and how the team regrouped to push it through the following year. The discussion highlights how laws are adjusted through compromise and exemptions so they can actually function in real-world situations.
Makenna also reflects on how experiences in conservation, including research work and a manta ray encounter in Hawaii, reinforced her commitment to advocacy. The conversation closes with broader thoughts on civic engagement, informed citizenship, and the idea that meaningful change often comes from staying involved and persistent, even when progress is slow.
Takeaways:
Individual care can reveal system-level problems, but policy is often where lasting change happens
Legislative work is built on timing, negotiation, and persistence, not just good ideas
In policy work, missing a legislative window often means restarting the process, not abandoning the goal
Advocacy requires balancing ideals with compromise to create laws that actually function
Being an informed, engaged citizen is a practical skill, not an abstract concept
Today’s guest: Makenna Trapani
Makenna Trapani is a Government Affairs Associate based in Arizona, where she works with a legislative team to advance state policy across animal welfare, energy, water, and social issues. Before entering public policy, she spent five years in emergency and critical care veterinary medicine, where she saw firsthand that the biggest gaps in care were often systemic rather than clinical, defined by the limits of existing laws and protections. That experience led her into legislative advocacy, with a focus on bridging the gap between policy and practice.
She carries a long-standing connection to the ocean, from contributing to shark hormone research at ASU to swimming with manta rays in Hawaii. These experiences have shaped her understanding of conservation, stewardship, and the responsibility to protect both ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Resources from this episode:
Arizona State Legislature — Official site for tracking bills, committee assignments, and legislative session information
Arizona Humane Society — The animal welfare organization behind the legislation discussed in this episode
Jerry’s Law (SB1658) — Article by the Arizona Humane Society on the passage of the animal cruelty legislation discussed in this episode
Arizona State University Shark Lab — Research group Makenna worked with during her undergraduate studies
Kona Indivisible — The local grassroots civic engagement group Martina is involved with on the Big Island
Makenna Trapani on LinkedIn — Professional profile and updates on her work in advocacy and Arizona public policy