It is still uncommon for animal cruelty investigators to serve as expert witnesses, but if you or someone in your agency has the right combination of education, experience, and training, you may qualify as an expert witness.

This educational guide for animal activists includes information about basic legal principles applicable with respect to activism, planning a demonstration, civil disobedience, interacting with police, and an Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act summary.

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapters are student groups that are affiliated with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and share its mission to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

Pamela Hart is an attorney and director of the Animal Law Program at the Animal Legal Defense Fund. In this capacity, she oversees programs dedicated to facilitating and fostering the development of animal law in academia and legal practice.

Stephen Wells is the executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Prior to becoming executive director in January, 2006, Stephen served as the director of ALDF’s successful Animal Law Program which he founded in 2000.

As one of the visionaries who co-founded the Animal Legal Defense Fund over thirty years ago, California attorney Joyce Tischler has helped shape the emerging field of animal law and now serves as ALDF's general counsel.

Scott has been a prosecutor for seventeen years, serving the last eight years as the elected district attorney in Benton County, Oregon. Joining ALDF's team in 2007, he now serves as the senior staff attorney in our Criminal Justice Program.

Law students interested in this cutting-edge field must be inventive and proactive in seeking out opportunities to become involved. Here are some suggestions for getting involved in animal law.

ALDF's New Study Ranks Provinces and Territories on Laws Protecting Animals - Ontario Ranks Worst, Manitoba Takes Top Honors in Animal Legal Defense Fund’s First-of-its-Kind Report

Epidemic of Horse Neglect Cases Plague State Where Animal Protection Laws Rank Last in the Nation

New Law Will Criminalize Organized Dogfighting, Allow Prosecutors to Charge Abusers Under RICO Laws

As attitudes have evolved during the past 20 years, animal law practice and education have steadily increased, and they continue to gain ground.

ALDF Applauds Oregon Lawmakers for Passing S.B. 1072

Elisabeth Custalow recently won the inaugural Pet JD animal law writing competition for her article, "Protecting Virginia’s Animals: What Treatment Is Required by Virginia Law of Animals in the Commonwealth?"

SB 26 Criminalizes Organized Dogfighting

The Rutgers University School of Law–Camden Student Animal Legal Defense Fund organized a Blanket Drive for the shelter, encouraging the law school community to bring their old sheets, towels, quilts, blankets, and comforters in to school to donate to the shelter.

Groups Call on the Agency to Issue New Regulations Declaring Foie Gras a Diseased Product

Second Annual Report Ranking Every State and the District of Columbia on the Relative Strength and Comprehensiveness of Their Animal Protection Laws

Foster Care Forms Developed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Criminal Justice Program

Nearly 4,000 Legislators and Legislative Staffers Gathered in Boston

Proposed Amendment to State RICO Act Could Send Dogfighters to Jail for 20 Years

Thomas M. Cooley Law School Forms the Nation’s 100th Student Chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund while ALDF Attorneys Advise on Local Dog Fighting Case

The biggest difficulty animal advocates face in helping animals get their day in court is "standing."

Quinnipiac Animal Law Society works to increase legal protection for animals.

Tamara McElyrea, vice president of Thomas M. Cooley Law School SALDF chapter discusses why animal law is here to stay.

The SALDF chapter at Quinnipiac University School of Law recently gained some community recognition through efforts on behalf of Connecticut S.B. 284, a bill pending in the Connecticut state legislature that would allow judges to issue orders of protections for animals in domestic violence situations.

Attorneys, Law Students, Professors, and Activists From Around the World Convened for "The Future of Animal Law"

In February, law students from all over the country competed at the fourth annual National Animal Advocacy Competitions (NAAC) at Harvard Law School.

Case Against Animal Hoarder Involved Hundreds of Dogs, Record Penalties

The University of Victoria School of Law's second annual conference on animal rights and the law left attendees craving more.

With the help of a $1 million grant to Northwestern University School of Law by Bob Barker, SALDF members laid the groundwork for an Animal Legal Protection Clinic.

Double Whammy for Mistreated Animals is a Negative Side Effect of Measure 3

Animal Law is being taught this spring for the first time at The University of Texas School of Law thanks to the school's SALDF members.

Oregon Court of Appeals Grants Petition to Permanently Remove Cats from their Neglectful Owner in Linn County Hoarding Case, Sets Vital Precedent for Animal Law

Since the very beginning, cutting-edge lawsuits have been at the heart of ALDF's work to protect the lives of animals. From pushing government agencies to do their jobs to protect animals to shining a national spotlight on issues like factory farming and dissection in schools.

ALDF Disappointed by High Court's Decision on Measure 3; Remains Confident in the Integrity of Abused Animal Forfeiture Laws

There are a number of ways to make significant contributions to this field by either working as a volunteer or doing pro bono work for a firm. Here are some suggestions for getting involved in animal law.

Developed for law students and law professionals, this tutorial focuses on fostering the growth of animal law in academia and legal practice. Animal Law 101 is in its new format and can be viewed online.

It began with one of the cruelest animal abuse cases imaginable. Three young men took Max, a brown tabby cat, from his home in Spokane, Washington, doused him with gasoline, and set him on fire in a field.

After taking the case against Mendes Calf Ranch all the way to the highest court in the land, ALDF got news on May 15, 2008 that the California Supreme Court was dismissing ALDF v. Mendes

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has produced a first-of-its-kind report – a ranking of all fifty states and the District of Columbia for the general comprehensiveness and relative strength of their respective animal protection laws.

The Legal Advocates' Manual for Animal Abuse Criminal Cases was written to help attorneys and others become effective advocates for animals while working with their local prosecutors' offices.

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapters are ALDF's law student groups, representing on campuses across the nation our mission to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund offers this comprehensive list of animal law courses offered throughout the United States and Canada.

The following materials are designed to help you with the process of forming a Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapter at your law school.

Send a strong message to your elected officials with ALDF's Legislative Posters. Sayings include, "Animals Don't Vote, But Those Who Love Them Do," and "Your Constituents Are Sleeping With Our Clients."

Selecting a law school to attend is a critical decision for future animal attorneys. ALDF offers these tips to finding the school that's right for you.

A principal function of the American legal system is to resolve disputes through an attempt to determine the truth. There are generally two kinds of legal actions filed in the U.S.: civil cases and criminal cases. This page describes the process of a civil lawsuit.

Find your elected officials and local district attorneys.

Bar Association Animal Law Sections and Committees are established in many states and assist legal professionals interested in animal law.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has compiled a concise list of animal law publications, academic journals and selected books.

Join Animal Legal Defense Fund's Animal Law Program! As a law student member, you'll receive ALDF's newsletter, The Animals' Advocate, an issue of Animal Law Review, email updates and more.

As a paralegal member of Animal Legal Defense Fund's Animal Law Program, you'll receive ALDF's newsletter, The Animals' Advocate, an issue of Animal Law Review, email updates and more.

Pre-conviction forfeiture is important so that the animal victims do not waste away in cages indefinitely but are instead allowed to be placed into loving homes.

Animals can’t vote, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have a voice in the political process. Animal advocates can give them a voice if the appropriate steps are taken in lobbying for pro-animal legislation. Learn how.

ALDF's Model Animal Protection Laws include definitions of terms, general prohibitions, defenses, pre- and post-conviction provisions, and other provisions.

A current list of U.S. jurisdictions with and without felony animal cruelty provisions.

This is the must-have resource for lawyers, law professors, law students, legislators, other legal professionals, and anyone who wants the most comprehensive animal protection laws collection of its kind available.

Whether writing to a prosecutor, sheriff, investigator or judge, our input can have a significant effect on how cases are handled and laws are enforced. The following tips will help you write a persuasive letter.

Companion animals add so much to our lives and give us joy, unconditional love and loyalty. Yet people routinely fail to provide for their animals in their wills. Here are several ways to ensure proper care of your animals following your death.

Finding an attorney to help with your animal-related issue can be an important step. ALDF offers these helpful suggestions when finding an animal law attorney.

We all want the pleasures that come from having companion animals in our homes. However, with that comes an owner 's responsibility to be a good neighbor. Here are some tips for being a responsible pet owner and steps towards resolving conflict should it arise.

Problems with landlords, property management, or homeowners associations that say you must remove your companion animal are not uncommon. Here are some suggestions for how to handle these types of disputes.

It is a matter of great concern if your dog is in danger of being declared dangerous or vicious, or if your dog is in danger of being euthanized for alleged viciousness for having been involved in an incident. Read this important information.

There are many reasons why a prosecutor may choose not to pursue criminal cruelty charges, even when it appears to us that the perpetrator is obviously guilty. Find out why, and what you can do to help ensure animal abusers are prosecuted.

This information is designed to provide a general introduction to handling companion animal wrongful death or injury cases both for caretakers of animals who have been injured or killed and for attorneys handling these cases for their clients.

One of the most frequent requests for assistance that the Animal Legal Defense Fund receives is from people whose companion animals have suffered injuries, or even death, and who fear that negligence by their veterinarian was the cause. Here is some important information about veterinary malpractice.

If someone has injured or killed your animal, you may be entitled to damages, regardless of whether the animal was injured or killed intentionally or accidentally, as long as the conduct is determined to be negligent. Read this important information.

If you purchased an animal from a breeder or a pet store and then discovered that the animal is sick, or if the animal has even died as a result of ill health, read this information.

If you are involved in a custody dispute, or if such a dispute is likely, it is suggested that you seek the counsel of an attorney who can advise you as to a strategic approach for a resolution that serves the best interests of the animal concerned.

This Frequently Asked Questions section was designed to help address the legal questions generated by animal rescuers and others assisting with the recovery of animals affected by disasters.

If you witness the abuse or neglect of an animal, please immediately file a complaint with your local law enforcement agency and insist that an investigation be completed. If charges have been filed, please contact ALDF and read this important information.