ALDF in the News
"Oregon's Jeff Merkley working to stop 'crush videos' that show animal torture," September 02, 2010, OregonLive.com
"They're made in clandestine situations and unless you are serving a warrant for something else you're just not going to find this stuff," Heiser said. "And with an iPhone, you can shoot a crush video in high definition."“American Airlines says heat may be factor in 7 puppy deaths,” August 18, 2010, USA Today
-Scott Heiser, Director of the ALDF’s Criminal Justice Program
“Lawyer takes a stand for the voiceless,” August 7, 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald
"We went from being mere 'animal lovers' to a movement with a strong philosophical foundation.""Pet safety back in the news after 7 puppies die on American flight," August 5, 2010, USA Today
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
"Carter Dillard, director of litigation at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, tells NBC Chicago he suggests people traveling with pets use animal-friendly carriers like Companion Air or Pet Airways."
“Split custody of dog recognizes changing role of family pets,” July 18, 2010, The Baltimore Sun
"We ask the court to consider that animals are not toasters. The toaster does not care which house it goes to, but animals do.”
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
"Can Animal Rights Go Too Far?," July 14, 2010, TIME
"Animal-law courses are now taught at many of the nation's leading law schools. Harvard Law School recently hosted a "Future of Animal Law" conference sponsored by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.""New 'animal studies' courses look at culture, not biology," July 8, 2010, USA Today
"Animal rights is one of the greatest social justice movements of our time. It's captivating and alluring to students to get involved in this, to recognize that the human-animal bond is not reflected in the law as it is in society.""Animal Abuser Registry Proposed For N.Y.," July 7, 2010, wcbstv.com
-Pamela Alexander, Director of ALDF's Animal Law Program
"The FBI has been tracking animal abusers, violent animal abusers, since the early 1970s because they have found most serial killers started by violently abusing and killing animals.""BP, Coast Guard agree to cut risks of burning turtles in oil slicks," July 2, 2010, MiamiHerald.com
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
"Though details remain to be worked out, the oil giant and Coast Guard-led spill response command agreed to improve and expand an observer program to look for turtles before torching pools of floating oil.""Animal groups and BP reach agreement in lawsuit over turtle burning in Gulf," July 2, 2010, NOLA.com
"We have agreed with them, and we are putting in place a process to minimize the impacts of the controlled burns.""Groups seek halt to BP oil burnings to save turtles," June 30, 2010, Reuters
-Lisa Franzetta, Director of Communications
"The lawsuit seeks a U.S. court order to immediately halt the burnings until steps can be taken that allow rescue teams to work with the incineration crews to remove as many turtles as possible from areas slated for burning before oil is ignited.""Suit: Stop funding zoo's 'cruel' elephant treatment," June 29, 2010, Seattle PI
"The complaint alleges the elephants suffer from a plethora of painful foot injuries caused by zoo conditions, including hard concrete floors and lack of space for natural roaming and foraging behavior.""Suit filed over treatment of zoo's elephants," June 29, 2010, The Seattle Times
"The plaintiffs allege that keeping elephants in captivity contributes to psychological distress, which is expressed in swaying and other repetitive behaviors that have been caught on video.""NWT, Nunavut in dog house for lax animal rights laws," June 10, 2010, CTV.ca
"Animals do not vote, but those who love and care about them do. It is our hope that these ongoing reviews continue to garner support for both the strengthening and enforcement of animal protection laws throughout Canada.""Alberta lags in animal abuse laws," June 10, 2010, Calgary Herald
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
"If we want to make communities safer, we need to pay attention to these kinds of studies.""NWT, Nunavut ranked last again for animal laws," June 9, 2010, CBC.ca
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
"Not only does it provide an objective criteria for law enforcement, to know when a law's been violated or not, but also it's a very good educational tool as well."
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
"Alberta animal abuse laws lacking, report says," June 9, 2010, Calgary Sun
"It’s a reflection of other provinces jumping ahead; there’s definitely some work in Alberta to be done."“Animal Rights On The March,” May 22, 2010, National Journal
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
“The basic challenge is that the law still regards animals as ‘property.’”"A New Plan to Stop Animal Abuse," May 16, 2010, Parade
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
"We're trying to reduce risk," says Stephan Otto of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, noting that animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans and four times more likely to commit property crimes than those without a history of violence against animals."High Court Rejects Ban on Animal Cruelty Videos," April 21, 2010, "Forum," KQED Radio, San Francisco
The Supreme Court ruled this week that videos and other depictions of animal cruelty are protected by the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. Joyce Tischler begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, general counsel with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, along with other guests, discuss the impact of the decision."Groups push for animal abuse registry," April 14, 2010, KATU.com, Oregon
“Would you want to know if there was someone who had tortured an animal living next door to you? And if you had that information, wouldn’t that help you make better decisions with regards to your pets and your family?”“Animal Rights Advocates Bare Teeth in a Novel Way,” April 1, 2010, The Wall Street Journal
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
"These laws were not written with animals in mind but we're using them to protect animals.''
-Lisa Franzetta, Director of Communications
“9th Circuit Reinstates Ban on 'Downer' Animals,”
April 1, 2010, The National Law Journal
“The writing is on the wall for companies that continue to subject animals to appalling abuses despite increased consumer calls for less cruel farming methods."
-Stephen Wells, Executive Director
"Animal Abuse as Clue to Additional Cruelties," March 17, 2010, The New York Times
“It’s not that animal abuse is more prevalent. What has changed over the past few years is the recognition that animal abuse is often a warning sign for other types of violence and neglect.”
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
"California Considers Tracking Animal Abusers Like Sex Offenders," March 5, 2010, FOXNews.com
"In part, it's an attempt to give law enforcement a heads up when people like this are in their communities, so they can cut off problems at the pass."
- Lisa Franzetta, Director of Communications
“A Legal Challenge to Animal Research,” Letter to the editor, The Scientist, February 2010: Vol. 24 No. 2
“If the animal research community intends to interfere with the content of animal law courses, it should reconsider its ostensible commitment to “academic freedom.”
-Matthew Liebman, ALDF Attorney
“Death of Sea World trainer: Do 'killer whales' belong in theme parks?,” February 24, 2010, The Christian Science Monitor
“These behemoths are denied all of their natural, instinctual inclinations, and we humans tend to think, ‘Well, this is just a bad animal.’ But it is a wild animal, used to running free in an entire ocean, but now confined to a very small space.”“Pet shops face ban on sales of puppy mill dogs,” February 3, 2010, USA Today
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
“Carole Davis of Companion Animal Protections Society (CAPS) assisted the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the City of West Hollywood in drafting the ordinance, as well as providing evidence.”“5 worst states to be an animal: Abuse laws lax,” February 3, 2010, MSNBC
“When animal abuse is addressed early, before it becomes a habit, it can help to reduce overall violence in a community.”“Post-Katrina, Pet Custody a Prominent Legal Issue,” January 12, 2009, The Associated Press
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
"Every state has an anti-cruelty law. There isn't any anti-cruelty law for my rug or my toaster. The law recognizes that animals need special protection."“Kentucky 'Best state to be an animal abuser' in 2009,” December, 17, 2009, The Courier-Journal, Kentucky
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
“This year we see many states and territories that are continuing to make outstanding progress with their laws. Unfortunately, there are still many places —Kentucky in particular, where the laws are incapable of providing the legal protections that our country’s animals need and deserve.”“Idaho Ranks At Bottom For Animal Protection Laws,” December 16, 2009, KIVI-TV, Idaho
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
“We look at a number of provisions of the law and penalties is one of them. But it goes beyond that if there's adequate animal fighting provisions.”“Colorado News Anchor Wins Custody of Her Dogs After 2-Year Court Battle,” December 14, 2009, People Magazine
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
“At first the usual response was to treat [pets] as personal property. There has been a change in attitude.”“Woman fighting to keep home, dog,” October 30, 2009, Contra Costa Times
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
“If doctors declare that a person is disabled and that a dog helps him or her, landlords must accept the dog as a "reasonable accommodation" for the disabled person.”“Supreme Court to weigh depictions of animal cruelty,” September 23, 2009, Los Angeles Times
-Bruce Wagman, ALDF's Chief Outside Litigation Counsel
"The 'crush videos' involve torture. There is no other way to say it. It is intentional abuse of a defenseless animal... People who do that should not be able to hide behind the 1st Amendment."
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
“O'Malley asks for review of animal cruelty laws,” June 19, 2009, Baltimore Sun
"Laws are catching up with how society feels about animals and their treatment."“Special Report: Operation Rescue,” June 2009, O, The Oprah Magazine
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
“We were not going to lose this case. We were not going to let the dogs down."
-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel
“Lack of penalties, animal protection laws earn NB unwanted distinction,” May 21, 2009, CBC News, Canada
"We know that those who abuse animals are also those who commit other forms of violence in our community so if we can have stronger animal protection laws we can make our communities safer for both those with four legs and those with two."
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
“SPCA seeks to fine couple who let 64 animals die,” April 14, 2009, Press of Atlantic City
"This is one of the worst-sounding cases ever - to have this many dead animals and such a light sentence."
-Dana Campbell, ALDF Attorney
“Legal Matrix Keeps Rottweiler in Pound,” March 14, 2009, ZooToo.com Pet News
"The field is definitely growing and we have more and more law schools every day that are adding animal law related classes.”
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
“Court rules pet's value to owner must be considered in custody battle,” March 10, 2009, The Star Ledger, New Jersey
“Animal law field expands — too late for some,” March 3, 2009, Columbia Missourian
"In the past, if someone did something bad to your animal, there wasn't much you could do. But if your animal was stolen and well-treated, it could be a felony. It was out of balance.”
-Pamela Frasch, Executive Director Center for Animal Law Studies
"Local gov'ts confront dangerous pets," February 25, 2009, USA Today
"More and more we're seeing state legislators paying attention to animal-related issues.""UT law students helping animals," Knoxville News Sentinel, Tenn.
-Stephan Otto, Director of Legislative Affairs
"Each person joins for a different reason, such as puppy mills or animal abuse in domestic violence situations."
-Tiffany Hagar, University of Tennessee Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapter president
"Corvallis teen could face felony for duck killing," October 14, 2008, KATU TV, Ore.
"People who engage in violence against animals are five times more likely to ultimately engage in violence against a human being."
-Scott Heiser, Director of the ALDF’s Criminal Justice Program
“WLKY Investigates Animal Cruelty,” August 20, 2008, WLKY TV, Louisville, KY
"These minimal standards for shelter laws are about as low on the totem pole as you can get. These are just the minimum where we make sure that the government is not in effect torturing the animals it picks up."“Pets in limbo,” August 20, 2008, Worchester Telegram, Mass.
-Katie Brophy, ALDF Board Chair and Louisville attorney
“How much money does a dog need for a lifetime? Mostly, you want someone you trust who will care for your animal.”
-Joyce Tischler, Founding Director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund
“Dog custody battles increase as divorcing couples argue over who keeps the pet,” July 20, 2008, Sunday Telegraph, London
"Sometimes the couple is using the dog in the same way that the children sometimes get used, as a way to keep the relationship going, but at other times they are fighting because animals are considered family now."
-Joyce Tischler, Founding Director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund
“The new legal hot topic: animal law,” July 15, 2008, Globe and Mail, Toronto, Canada
“Being a lawyer, I suppose, is inherently about representation, and animals are beings who are unable to represent themselves. ... So I think, as a lawyer, it's one of the best jobs you could have."
-Andy Brighten, Animal Legal Defense Fund Law Clerk
“A will for your pet?” July 15, 2008, SFGate
"Our society is caring more about the health and safety of our animals."
-Joyce Tischler, Founding Director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund
“Questions over dog’s death remain for Sheriff Sadie Darnell,” April 8, 2008, Independent Florida Alligator
"He didn't need to grab a gun and put a slug in the dog's head."
-Scott Heiser, Director of the ALDF’s Criminal Justice Program
“Fido, Fluffy Become More High Profile Part of Law,” March 29, 2008, USA Today
“Ninety-two of the 196 law schools in the country approved by the American Bar Association now offer courses on animal law, up from the nine that offered classes in 2000, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.”
“Calf confinement protested,” March 26, 2008, FresnoBee.com News Blog, Fresno, CA
“As a cowboy, I must stand up for cows.”
-Willie Nelson
“Justice Sides with Dairies on Local Calf Cruelty Case,” February 18, 2008, KGET-TV, Fresno, CA
“Even if it's cruel to cage calves in tiny pens, it's not something a private citizen can do anything about, an appeals court ruled in a Valley case that has caught national attention.”
“Animal Law,” March 2008 Cover Story, Washington Lawyer
“I always say that sooner or later, whether you consider yourself an animal attorney or not, you’re going to have a case involving an animal.”
-Pam Alexander, Director of ALDF’s Animal Law Program
“Animal Rights Group Settles With Owner of Seized Dogs,” December 12, 2007, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC
“The Animal Legal Defense Fund sought a court order that would prevent Conyers, 77, from regaining ownership of the dogs.”
“More U.S. Law Schools Going to the Dogs,” October 20, 2007, Houston Chronicle
“New Jersey May Give Pet Owners Right to Sue,” May 21, 2007, CBS News"This decade, an attorney can go into court and not be laughed at for being an animal lawyer, when 10 years ago they would have been laughed at; it’s gone from fringe to mainstream.”
-Pam Alexander, Director of ALDF’s Animal Law Program
"Unless you live with Rin Tin Tin, in most instances that's de minimis value."
-Joyce Tischler, Founding Director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund
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