Animal & Dog Law
Overview
Animal law is the body of law surrounding pet ownership, wildlife, animals used in the entertainment industry and animals raised for food and research. Animal law is a combination of various areas of law, such as tort, criminal, contract and constitutional law. Important issues in animal law include animal cruelty, companion animal concerns, animal breeding and animal estate planning.
Animal Cruelty
Animal protection laws, known as anti-cruelty laws, regulate the abuse of animals. The Animal Welfare Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to regulate the use of animals in research settings, circuses and zoos. Additionally, every state criminalizes the commission of inhumane acts against animals. In many states, violation of these laws is treated as a felony. Animal cruelty laws address a wide variety of issues, including owner neglect, pet mills or "farms" and animal laboratory testing. The Humane Society of the United States works to shield animals from mistreatment by actively investigating potential abusers. Another prominent animal rights organization is the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), which seeks to protect abused animals through the legal system. The ALDF brings a number of lawsuits each year in an effort to eliminate animal cruelty.
Legislation
Bill Introduced: S.847 Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act of 2013
A bill to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date on which the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.Bill Introduced: S.738 Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013
A bill to grant the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize States to issue electronic duck stamps, and for other purposes.Bill Introduced: H.R.1518 Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2013
To amend the Horse Protection Act to designate additional unlawful acts under the Act, strengthen penalties for violations of the Act, improve Department of Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for other purposes.Bill Introduced: H.R.1328 Great Ape Conservation Reauthorization Amendments Act of 2013
To reauthorize the Great Ape Conservation Act, and for other purposes.Bill Introduced: H.R.1308 Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce predation on endangered Columbia River salmon and other nonlisted species, and for other purposes.
