Michael Mountain is president and one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Society.

As the creator of the national No More Homeless Pets campaign, Michael spearheads Best Friends efforts to bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets and when every dog or cat that's ever born can be guaranteed a good home with a loving family.

As the editor of Best Friends magazine, Michael has led the way in changing the whole tone of animal welfare literature - from sad, gory, and guilt-making to upbeat, encouraging, and empowering. This style and approach, which imbues all Best Friends literature, has played a crucial part in the remarkable growth of membership in Best Friends across the country and beyond. Michael is also the chief fundraiser for the sanctuary and its programs, and helps other organizations develop their own membership and outreach programs.

Michael grew up in England and studied philosophy, music, and classical and modern literature at Oxford University in the 1960s. A growing urge to campaign for the needs of non-human animals led him to drop out and travel across Europe and then America as an advocate against vivisection and all cruelty to animals.

Today, much of Michael's public speaking and writing focuses on how, in a fast-changing world that is constantly searching for meaning and purpose, kindness to animals - indeed to all living beings - is the key spiritual value of our time.

Michael lives with several dogs and cats, and enjoys playing host to a variety of wildlife visitors at his home in Angel Canyon, the home of Best Friends. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and exploring Angel Canyon and the neighboring national parks of the Southwest.