Animal & Dog Law Overview
Animal & Dog Law Resources
Related Practice Areas
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.
Show Extended SummaryLegislation 
- Bill Enacted: S.2739 Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008
A bill to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy, to implement further the Act approving the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes.
May 08, 2008: Became Public Law No: 110-229.
(May 6, 2008) - Bill Introduced: S.Res.520 A resolution designating May 16, 2008, as "Endangered ...
A resolution designating May 16, 2008, as "Endangered Species Day".
(April 15, 2008) - Bill Introduced: S.2787 Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009
A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2009, and for other purposes.
(March 29, 2008) - Bill Enacted: S.2745 A bill to extend agricultural programs beyond March 15, 2008, to suspend ...
A bill to extend agricultural programs beyond March 15, 2008, to suspend permanent price support authorities beyond that date, and for other purposes.
March 14, 2008: Became Public Law No: 110-196.
(March 12, 2008) - Bill Introduced: S.Con.Res.70 Budget resolution FY2009
An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013.
(March 5, 2008)
Government 
- Green Puppy Born In New Orleans
WDSU.com reports -- "Sometimes, when a puppy is born, the amniotic fluid mixes with the placenta and dyes the coat of the puppy and it almost always happens to very light colored puppies."http://www.wdsu.com/news/16205871/detail.html#
(May 8, 2008) - First Deliveries of Realistic Neonatal Simulator to Arrive in Hospitals This Month
MedicalNewsToday reports the SimNewB, a new neonatal patient simulator developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Laerdal Medical will help health care professionals learn to resuscitate their most vulnerable patients. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106763.php
(May 8, 2008) - Statement by USDA Secretary Ed Schafer on HSUS Animal Cruelty Video
WASHINGTON, D.C. May 7, 2008 "Late last week, the Humane Society of the United States notified me that they were in the early stages of an investigation into the mistreatment of farm animals transported to livestock auctions and stockyards. The dairy cattle shown in the video were non-ambulatory and were abandoned in parking lots of these auctions and yards. These animals were not in slaughter facilities. However, even though this is not a food safety issue, these actions of animal cruelty are not acceptable." http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/1/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2008%2F05%2F0121.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE#7_2_5JM
(May 7, 2008) - Unique Human In Vitro Model Research May Lead To Brain Tumor Therapies
MedicalNewsToday.com reports Professor Oliver Hanemann said in "Using human in vitro cell culture, which is the unique aspect of our work, allows us to move seamlessly and relatively quickly from lab-based biochemistry to drug therapies, clinical trials and hopefully successful outcomes." http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/101465.php
(May 7, 2008) - New Policy Passed To Encourage Humane Treatment Of Captive Elephants, Appropriate Use Of ...
MedicalNewsToday.com reports the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued a new policy offering guidance on the humane treatment and handling of elephants by veterinarians and handlers. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106596.php
(May 7, 2008)
News 
- Support bill to limit dog chaining
The Evening Sun, PA - 16 hours ago
May 18-24 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. One of the surest ways to create a dangerous dog is to chain it to a tree or doghouse or keep it penned ...
(May 10, 2008)
KTVB
Neighbors help raise money for dog bite victim
KTVB, ID - May 10, 2008
Neighbors donated items to be sold to help raise money for Korbin Edison who was attacked by a pit bull last week. NAMPA--A neighborhood pitched in Saturday ...
(May 9, 2008)- Court rules Jefferson Co. dangerous dog law valid
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY - May 10, 2008
By Jason Riley • jriley@courier-journal.com • May 10, 2008 Louisville's dangerous-dog law has been declared valid by a judge who ruled yesterday that it was ...
(May 9, 2008) - PAW PRINTS: Increasing number of couples split up fighting over ...
Terre Haute Tribune Star, IN - 21 hours ago
Many attorneys are drafting “petimony” contracts for couples with pets creating a new focus on animal law issues. A law expert in Sydney, Australia, ...
(May 9, 2008) - Dog bite Prevention Week starts May 18
Marshall News Messenger, TX - 20 hours ago
The third full week of May is highlighted as National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States ...
(May 9, 2008)
Blog Posts 
- 'Holy Grail' of Animal Rights Law Tantalizes a New Breed of Lawyer
By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN Staff Reporter of the New York Sun May 6, 2008 A few years back, a lawyer sued President Bush in Hawaii on behalf of all the world's whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Although the case was dismissed, the outcome gave animal rights lawyers a glimmer of hope. At the time, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that it saw "no reason" why the Constitution prevents federal courts from hearing cases brought in the name of animals. All that was needed, the 9th Circuit...
(May 4, 2008) - AVMA (once again) opposes recognizing any worth of animals beyond market value
This article from the upcoming issue of JAVMA News: May 15, 2008 Vermont's high court considers pets' special value Suit seeks compensation for emotional pain and loss of companionship Vermont's Supreme Court will hear a case about whether a pet owner has the right to compensation for the emotional pain and loss of companionship when the animal dies as a result of negligence. Sensing the importance of the case, veterinary associations-including the AVMA-animal rights groups, and other...
(May 4, 2008) - Court Orders Tyson to Suspend Ads For Antibiotic-Free Chicken
(Again, not exactly animal law (let's be realistic here... as much as this is a growing field there just isn't going to be a true "animal law" story every day yet), but it does involve courts and animals and... well, anything that sticks it to factory farming is worth a mention as far as I'm concerned...) By Annys Shin Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, May 2, 2008; Page D01 Poultry giant Tyson Foods has 14 days to dismantle a national multimillion dollar ad campaign centered on the claim...
(May 1, 2008) - New Swiss law protects rights of 'social' animals
From The TimesTimes Online April 26, 2008 Bojan Pancevski It is a world in which the goldfish are never lonely, the dogs are always obedient and the guinea-pigs are never tormented by children. Under a new Swiss law enshrining rights for animals, dog owners will require a qualification, anglers will take lessons in compassion and horses will go only in twos. Read more here...
(April 24, 2008) - New Animal Law casebook available
Congratulations to Taimie Bryant, David Cassuto, Rebecca Huss and all the other contributing authors on the publication of the latest entry into the animal law textbook market: Animal Law and the Courts: A Reader. According to Professor Bryant, "[t]he Reader is a compilation of chapters contributed by authors who chose one or two judicial opinions about which to write a chapter that treats in more depth one or more issues raised by the opinion(s)." The teaching manual include another 13...
(April 23, 2008)