This article describes the author's experience dealing with animal rights protests. It describes a group convened to address the issue of animal care and use in education, comprised of faculty from veterinary medicine, veterinary students, members of the Vegetarian Resources Network, the director of Oregon State's Program for Ethics, Science, and the Environment, and the dean of students. Besides the goal of exploring how to teach surgical skills to veterinary students, other goals set by those who agreed to take part included: Exposing all participants--students, faculty, and administrators alike--to a wide range of ideas related to the care and use of animals in education; Exploring the challenges associated with changes in the existing use and care of animals in education; and Investigating the dynamics of change and how to move an institution to consider curricular changes. Also driving the process was the desire among at least some participants to suggest practical changes that could improve the quality of life of all animals. The article describes positive developments that came out of the group and its regular meetings.