ALDF in the News

"Bay Area restaurants still selling banned foie gras," May 6, 2013, KGO-TV "The way it worked was that we would not have received the foie gras had he not paid for this expensive meal. Nonetheless, it was framed and described as a gift from the chef." -John Melia, ALDF Litigation Fellow

Permit to keep 'Tony' the tiger at Baton Rouge-area truck stop invalid, appeal court says, April 26, 2013, Associated Press "What the court said is that taxpayers do have an interest in how their money is spent and when the government is spending money for permits that are inhumane and illegal, you have a right to challenge that decision in court." -Matthew Liebman, ALDF Senior Attorney

"In the battle to free an orca, activists secure a small victory," April 24, 2013, The Seattle Times "Lolita belongs with her family, and not in a tiny tank performing tricks." -Jenni James, ALDF Litigation Fellow

"Animal abuse registry proposed in dog's memory," April 22, 2013, Associated Press "Startup costs for the registry of about $10,000 would be shouldered by the Animal Legal Defense Fund."

"Animal rights groups sue U.S. over egg labeling," March 28, 2013, Reuters "The lawsuit asks that egg producers nationwide be required to clearly label cartons with egg production methods, including the identification of "Eggs from Caged Hens."" -Megan Backus, ALDF Media Relations Associate

"A Tiger, a Truck Stop and a Pitched Legal Battle," March 27, 2013, The New York Times "The bottom line for us is that tigers don’t belong in truck stops." -Matthew Liebman, ALDF Senior Attorney

“Animal Rights Group Sues Wine Country Restaurant For Breaking Foie Gras Ban,” March 15, 2013, KCBS Radio, San Francisco “We had a private investigator go in there, ask if he could get foie gras. He was told that he could get foie gras if he purchased this very expensive, multi-course meal.” -John Melia, ALDF Litigation Fellow

"State appeals court hears case of Tony the truck stop tiger," February 20, 2013, The Advocate

"Mobile app lets you report animal abuse with click of a button," February 20, 2013, KING5-TV, Seattle "ALDF Crime Tips takes the guesswork out of reporting abuse like dog fighting, neglect, and other forms of animal cruelty." -Steven Wells, ALDF Executive Director

"Animal rights group celebrates W.Va. dog that survived torture," February 15, 2013, The Charleston Gazette

"California lags behind much of U.S. in pet ownership," February 2, 2013, Press Democrat

"DNR takes no action on off-season penning," January 31, 2013, Nuovo.net

"Lawsuit Claims Animal Cruelty By Santa Cruz Biotech Firm," January 18, 2013, Associated Press

"Rewards Being Offered In Case Of Dog Caught In Trap," December 20, 2012, Chicago Sun Times

"US food, animal groups seek lower ractopamine limits," December 20, 2012, Reuters

"For 4th straight year, Illinois has nation's toughest animal anti-cruelty laws, group says," December 18, 2012, The Chicago Tribune

"Animal Control: Kentucky Pet Abuse Laws Could Be Better," December 18, 2012, ABC 36

"Editorial: Learn from the ‘Glamour Beasts," December 8, 2012, The Seattle Times

"Dolphins found shot, mutilated; hunt on for killers," November 20, 2012, Reuters

"Food labels multiply, some confuse consumers," November 12, 2012, Associated Press

"University of Minnesota sued for animal testing secrecy," November 9, 2012, CityPages "The public has the legal right to know what the University of Minnesota is doing to animals in the name of research. This willful violation of state law and animal welfare law must end." -Steven Wells, ALDF Executive Director

"Reward Offered In Fatal Sonoma County Horse Shooting," November 9, 2012, CBS San Francisco

"Feds to reconsider petition aimed at freeing orca Lolita," October 15, 2012, The Seattle Times

"Petaluma Organic Egg Farm Sued Over Packaging," October 1, 2012, CBS San Francisco

"Lawsuit strikes at heart of liver controversy," September 26, 2012, Times Union "When the department fails to condemn diseased poultry products, they are failing to comply with (the law). Countless birds are suffering because of the state of New York's negligence." -Steven Wells, ALDF Executive Director

"Pet Politics: City Council Considers Animal Abuser Registry," September 19, 2012, The New York Observer "There’s a sense that as with sex offenders, people should be able to identify dangerous individuals in their community." -Lisa Franzetta, ALDF Director of Communications

"Animal abusers in N.Y. may have to register like sex offenders," September 13, 2012, Los Angeles Times

"Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. of Queens will submit bill Wednesday to create a database of people convicted of abusing animals so they can’t get a new pet," September 12, 2012, New York Daily News

"Ben the bear won't return to roadside zoo in NC," August 27, 2012, Associated Press

"Activists file lawsuit challenging Miami Seaquarium license," August 23, 2012, Miami Herald

"Pet ownership disputes can be as messy as child custody cases," August 22, 2012, Los Angeles Times

"Investigation snaps back on annual Rising Sun festival," August 2, 2012, FOX19-TV, Ohio "Since it began in 1996, Snapperfest has been a shame on the state of Indiana, and compassionate citizens from around the world have been up-in-arms about this pathetic event since undercover video of participants abusing turtles for a cheap thrill came to light." -Carter Dillard, Director of Litigation

"Animals can be victims of crime, Oregon Court of Appeals says," August 2, 2012, Associated Press "It's rare for laws to allow animals to be victims. Most laws, including in Oregon, say people can be victims, as well as other entities, such as corporations, while animals are usually defined as property." -Scott Heiser, Director, Criminal Justice Program

"Sacramento restaurants find loopholes in foie gras ban," July 25, 2012, The Sacramento Bee "Their flouting of the law shows they're out of the norm, and that's consistent with foie gras production which mutilates and tortures animals to make them taste better." -Carter Dillard, Director of Litigation

"Advocates file appeal, aim to send zoo elephants to sanctuary," July 13, 2012, KOMO News, Seattle (Video)

"Quebec best province to abuse animals, report says," July 9, 2012, CBC News

"Ventura County chefs, diners prepare for final days of foie gras," June 23, 2012, Ventura County Star

"The animal protection community will vigorously fight to protect this law that Californians strongly support and that well over 95 percent of restaurants already comply with."

-Megan Backus, ALDF Media Relations Associate

""Animal groups sue over Stanislaus County hen rescue," May 17, 2012, The Modesto Bee

"If you commit an act of cruelty like this, the court system needs to hold you accountable."

-Lisa Franzetta, ALDF Director of Communications

"Judge dismisses suit to free orca from captivity," May 7, 2012, The Seattle Times

"Foie Gras debate," May 2, 2012, ABC News10, Sacramento (Video)

"Who cares for Fido after owner is gone?" April 30, 2012, Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

"Pet owners should find someone they trust to carry out their wishes."

-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel

"Animal Abusers Would Be Named Under Bills in 26 States," April 25, 2012, Bloomberg Businessweek

"It’s frustrating to see repeat offenders commit these crimes and get away with it in people’s eyes. The registries appeal to people’s common sense."

-Stephen Wells, Executive Director

"Lawsuit filed over bear's living conditions in NC," April 20, 2012, ABC 11, North Carolina

"Group files another truck stop tiger lawsuit," April 5, 2012, Associated Press

"The permit has expired, because the state was ordered by the court not to renew it. He (Sandlin) is now exhibiting the tiger without a permit.

-Lisa Franzetta, Director of Communications

"Snapperfest stokes cries of animal cruelty," February 10, 2012, Nuvo, Indianapolis

"They have a responsibility to protect wildlife. Between Snapperfest, coyote penning and canned hunting, the leadership looks like it's putting up Indiana's wildlife in a fire sale."

-Carter Dillard, Director of Litigation

"Animal rights group sues Live Oak poultry hatchery, alleging animal abuse," January 11, 2012, San Jose Mercury News

"This is a problem that's rife in the agricultural industry."

-Carter Dillard, Director of Litigation

"Another suit filed in Grosse Tete tiger case," January 4, 2012, The Advocate

"We are confident that the state of Louisiana and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries acted well within their legal authority when they decided to protect both the public and big cats like Tony by restricting private ownership of wild animals.’’

-Matthew Liebman, ALDF Staff Attorney

"Illinois shines in animal protection...Iowa among the worst," December 14, 2011, Associated Press

"Pet Owners Head To Court To Pursue Lawsuit," October 18, 2011, CBS, Denver

"It was felt that the judge used the wrong measuring stick for the amount of damages that should be paid."

-Diane Balkin, ALDF Contract Attorney, Criminal Justice Program 

"Animal Rights Group Wants Cigarette-Like Warning Labels On Foie Gras," September 8, 2011, SFist

"Today’s petition, at the very least, alerts consumers to what they are eating. Just like someone buying a pack of cigarettes, consumers purchasing foie gras have a right to know what they are really buying, and to be warned about the risks involved."

-Carter Dillard, Director of Litigation

"Pet cruelty registry could help fight against domestic abuse," May 19, 2011, Reuters

"Kids are often very reluctant to disclose the abuse they have personally suffered but are more willing to disclose the abuse they've witnessed the suspect inflict on a pet."

-Scott Heiser, Director, Criminal Justice Program

"Groups Sue State To Stop Live Bait Dog Training," May 13, 2011, WRTV-TV, Indiana

"Cash Cows: Is the Woodland Park Zoo Mistreating Its Elephants?" May 10, 2011, The Stranger, Seattle

"There have been empirical studies of how long people stay at exhibits, and if they read the signs, that show people don't learn much from the exhibits,"

-Matthew Liebman, ALDF Staff Attorney

"State Legislatures Take Up Bills Barring Undercover Videos of Confined Animal Feeding Operations," May 5, 2011, The New York Times

"We're concerned that this could be a national trend, and certainly it's more of a threat in states that are more agricultural and have legislatures that are more sympathetic to the agriculture lobby."

-Matthew Liebman, ALDF Staff Attorney

"SF debates setting up database of animal abusers," April 15, 2011, KGO-TV, San Francisco

"It's very typical with legislation that once one jurisdiction is the groundbreaker, as we have with Suffolk County, New York, it tends to be a domino effect."

-Lisa Franzetta, Director of Communications

"Animal rights group calls Tony the tiger's permit illegal," April 14, 2011, NBC33, Louisiana

"Pets May Board Military Flights," March 19, 2011, The Wall Street Journal

Some families of U.S. military members stationed in Japan have been told they can't take pets with them on government-departure flights, but a U.S. Navy representative on Saturday said up to two pets were allowed on board per family.

"Dealing with tragedy of animal hoarding," February 20, 2011, Bakersfield Californian

"In the short term, neglected and abused animals should be removed from a hoarder's property; over the long term, animal protection laws need to be modified in order to give law enforcement officials the tools they need to charge and convict hoarders."

-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel

"Pet Talk: Does the time fit animal-abuse crime?" February 15, 2011, USA Today

"In comparison to others, Walker's sentence is not unreasonably mild and it had some important elements."

-Joyce Tischler, Founder, General Counsel