Abusers of animals are five times as likely to harm humans. Nearly half of the victims who stay in violent households do so because they are afraid for their animals. The "link" between violence against humans and animals is clear. But there are resources that can help.

Take action to secure a meaningful sentence for father of boy who shot three dogs while hunting.

Last week, a 73-year-old Firestone, Colorado man, Joseph Losinsksi, was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. His crime: poisoning two dogs with strychnine-laced meatballs.

Perpetrator Intentionally Set Trap, Killing Homeowner's Dog

Undercover Investigation Leads to Landmark Florida “Public Nuisance” Lawsuit

A dark world of animal abuse is proliferating in Florida. Known as "backyard slaughter," animals are illegally slaughtered and butchered on makeshift farms. The banned meat is then sold on the black market.

Criminal justice involving a crime against an animal should literally mean that each and every animal is significant and is worth the time, energy, and investment of a thorough investigation.

In this continuing series of updates on former Student Animal Legal Defense Fund members, ALDF is proud to spotlight Emily Davidsohn.

I've written in the past about how important it is for animal cruelty prosecutors to "take the high road" and be scrupulously ethical. As I've studied and considered the issue further, it has occurred to me that an even more fundamental ethical issue presents itself with disturbing frequency -- the failure of prosecutors to prosecute animal cruelty adequately or at all.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos and Senator Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet, recently addressed state legislators on SB 1145, a bill that seeks to increase the fines levied against participants and spectators of illegal cockfights.

Please take a moment to urge Governor Otter to support future strengthening of the animal cruelty law with provisions for felony convictions on the first offense and meaningful penalties for violators.

Michael A. Tabor of Branson, Missouri tied a 9-month-old colt to the back of a minivan and drove at speeds approaching 35 MPH. The reason? He wanted to halter break this poor young horse.

Bill Would Provide New Defenses to Animal Abusers

Fresno County, California
Bench warrant issued.

Maybe it's time for the legislature of Florida and other states to start explicitly treating animals like the victims they, so very often, tragically are.

So reads the headline of one of the many news stories on the trial and sentencing of Diane Eldrup who operated a "shelter & boarding facility" in Deer Park, IL, named "Muddy Paws."

What Is a Dog Worth? Oral Argument in Heartbreaking Case Addresses How Our Legal System Values Companion Animals

More than 2.1 million people -- and millions of animals -- now protected.

What you can do help establish mandatory minimum sentences in aggravated forms of animal abuse? Educate yourself and then act

Kern County, California
Case Closed

Was Off-Duty Law Enforcement Officer Actually in Fear of his Safety When He Shot and Killed his Neighbor's Chihuahua with a Bow and Arrow? Kansas Prosecutors Don't Think So...

The expertise seasoned prosecutors bring to the charging process reflects the complexities which often determine the possibility of going forward with a criminal prosecution.

As a prosecutor for the past 15 years specializing in animal cruelty cases, I've come to realize that education, i.e., raising sensitivity, is key to making progress in the fight for animal rights.

It's time to close loopholes in the federal animal fighting law, thereby giving law enforcement the tools they need to hold animal abusers accountable.

Join us today to win animals the legal protection they deserve.

Win real justice for animal victims like Rosco.

Contact your legislators and urge them to pursue laws which protect humans and animals from violence.

Patrick's plight moves many to action.

For those who practice animal law, a persistent debate rages on: of the many options available, which legal path is the best course to take to improve the plight of animals in the United States?

Your help is needed today to pass "Cooney's Law" SB 223 and make certain acts of animal cruelty a felony on the first offense!

Baker County, Florida
Case Closed

Russell Swigart's parole was denied after breaking into his former co-worker's home and brutally stabbed two of her cats to death. Bridgett, the cats' guardian, sent us this letter to express her deep gratitude to all of her supporters.

The veterinarian told us Justin was rescued "just in time" after the Suffolk County, New York SPCA removed him from a foreclosed house in May 2010 where he was left abandoned with no food or water. Justin at the time of his rescueWeighing only 19 pounds, he was a skeleton with skin.

Today's daily action for National Justice for Animals Week is: suggest a caption for the recent photo of Justin, the week's official mascot.

Joshua Crain has been an Assistant District Attorney General in McMinnville, Tennessee, since July 2005. Joshua has aggressively prosecuted several animal abuse cases, three of which have made their way into Circuit Court.

Robin Gordon served as North Dakota's State Attorney in McHenry County from 1999 to 2010. During that time Robin worked on many animal cases -- most notably a hoarding case in which 18 dogs were removed from deplorable conditions in a trailer in Deering, North Dakota.

As a State Prosecutor with the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General in Los Angeles, Tannaz Kouhpainezhad, also a professor of animal law, has a perfect record of obtaining affirmances on animal cruelty appeals.

Thank you to everyone who signed the petition and wrote letters to the Kentucky Parole Board!

Kenton County, Kentucky
Case Closed

While the appellate opinion in the Kern County, California, Bemis/Trapani case is limited in scope, the underlying casework serves as an excellent example of a prosecutor's need to address three key issues in an animal hoarding prosecution.

Please help ALDF speak out for sled dogs by asking the corporate sponsors of events like the Iditarod to withdraw their support. Thanks to your efforts we've already overloaded the inboxes of the event's sponsors with thousands of emails.

ALDF grant aids sheriff's animal rescue

Authorities charged Martha Montgomery of Randolph County, North Carolina with felony and misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty after seizing three horses due to alleged neglect in December 2010.

Michael Vick's federal sentence contains a three-year ban on the possession of a dog. Should it have been permanent? We at the Animal Legal Defense Fund certainly think so, but we have to recognize the jurisdictional limits inherent in our justice system.

In this Q&A session, attorney Scott Heiser, director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Criminal Justice Program, answers some questions and provides some clarification relating to the current debate about whether Michael Vick should be allowed to own a pet dog.

Help ALDF ensure that abusers are held accountable for their crimes by making a special year-end donation toward our work to protect animals.

Kentucky, North Dakota, Idaho, Mississippi and Iowa are the five best states in the country to be an animal abuser, according to a new report released by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

ALDF's fifth annual report, the longest-running and most authoritative report of its kind, ranks each jurisdiction on the relative strength and comprehensiveness of their current animal protection laws.

Kristian Dennard Jackson & Decarlos Lashawn Young pled guilty today to animal killing/torturing and arson of real property.

Citizens Urged to Take a Stand Against Dogfighting by Attending the Hearing, Demanding Justice

Wayne County, Michigan
Case Closed

Were you ever that passionate? Were you ever that hopeful?

The Associated Press on September 16th reported that a man accused of dragging a "stubborn" horse alongside his truck has become the first person convicted by a Puerto Rico jury under an animal protection law enacted after dogs were thrown to their deaths from a bridge.

The Suffolk County Legislature unanimously approved a bill Tuesday, October 12th, to create a law establishing a county registry for animal abuse offenders. Suffolk County is home to 1.5 million human residents and an untold number of animal residents.

1.5 Million New Yorkers and their Animals Will Have More Protection from Repeat Offenders

Nation's first animal abuser registry could be just around the corner.

Deprived of legal protection, animals are defenseless against exploitation and abuse by humans. Check out ALDF's 30-second public service announcement version of our "This Is Who We Are" video.

Write a polite letter to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to oppose parole for this dogfighter, who is responsible for the suffering of many innocent animals in this violent bloodsport.

Charleston County, South Carolina
Case Closed

"We hold these truths to be self-evident" begins the famous line from the Declaration of Independence. I've got my own version: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that one and one is two, that the sky is blue, and that abused animals should not be returned to their abusers.

Due to South Dakota's consistent low rating in ALDF's annual State Animal Protection Laws Rankings, I read with interest a June 23, 2010 opinion that came down from the Supreme Court of South Dakota: State v. Fifteen Impounded Cats. While the Court's ultimate ruling is a desirable one, I take issue with the underlying reasoning used to get there.

In May 2010, at the Clinton County, New York home of Michael Malpass, police discovered six dead animals along with eighteen cats and three dogs suffering from severe neglect in conditions so filthy that the house was condemned.

Clinton County, New York
Case Closed

"Canine CSI? Advances in Investigating and Prosecuting Cruelty to Animals" discussed the latest tools attorneys have available to them when prosecuting animal cruelty cases, from DNA evidence to the data on the suspect's cell phone.

Confrontation Clause Implications of Admitting Veterinary Records Under the "Business Records" Exception to the Rule Against Hearsay

Hialeah, Florida
Case Closed

Last year, Americans spent roughly $18 billion dollars on coffee—and virtually nothing to protect animals from some of the worst abuses imaginable. Is this who we are?

Download a complimentary copy or order a copy on CD.

Vikki Rene Kittles, also known as Susan Dietrich, Rene Depenbrock, and Lynn Zellan, has a history of animal hoarding that goes back decades and spans the United States from the Southeast to the Northwest.

Bill to make torturing cats and dogs a felony dies in the legislature.

In the world of animal crimes prosecutions, it is common knowledge that those who participate in the underground world of animal fighting have a very real and frequently indulged need to communicate about their illegal exploits.

Celebrating some of our nation's most important animal advocates.

Amy Slameka has been with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office since January 2001. She co-founded the Animal Protection Unit (APU) in 2008 with Rajesh Prasad. The APU is designed to combat the underground criminal community that breeds, trains, houses and sells fighting animals.

Tiffany Wasserburger is the county attorney for Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. Tiffany's tireless prosecution has helped provide second chances for countless animals, including Max the kitten.

James Reams has served as the Rockingham County Attorney for the past 12 years. James spearheaded the landmark prosecution when, in 2001, the Plaistow District Court searched the property of Christopher Devito in Newton, N.H. for evidence of running a "fighting dog" operation.

William G. Lamberth II is currently an Assistant District Attorney for Sumner County, Tennessee. In 2006, William, helped secure a positive outcome for hundreds of rescued dogs from a puppy mill near Nashville.

Evicted in October 2009, Cody and Jessica Manning of El Paso County, Colorado allegedly abandoned their two dogs, reportedly leaving one tied to a tree and one inside a trailer. Please take action and send a letter today supporting this case!

Two horrific cases involving the abuse and neglect of several dogs have recently come to a close, both ending with jail time for the abusers. Thank you to everyone who sent emails and supported these cases!

ALDF would like to recognize the contributions of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Assistant State Attorney Michael Von Zamft for their efforts in a brutal crime spree where 19 cats were found killed and mutilated in neighborhoods throughout Florida's Miami-Dade County.

Santa Cruz, California
Case Closed

In December 2009, over 35 animals - including 19 horses and three mules - were seized by authorities from alleged neglect which reportedly included filthy and hazardous stable conditions, inadequate food and water, and failure to provide veterinary care. Paul Anthony Novicki and Rambling River Ranch owner Gina S. Rapuano of New Haven, Connecticut are now facing a total of 33 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, with Ms. Rapuano additionally facing multiple felony counts of forgery and evidence-tampering. The animals have since been forfeited over to authorities and are recovering.

New Haven, Connecticut
Case Closed

Bob Barker may best be known as the beloved host of the longest running TV game show in history. But "The Price is Right" host is also a long-time advocate for animals and is the keynote speaker at Animal Legal Defense Fund's "Future of Animal Law" conference on April 9-11 at Harvard Law School.

An amicus curiae brief permits a non-party to offer its view of a case, typically premised on either its interest in the outcome or its expertise in the field. The Animal Legal Defense Fund submits amicus briefs in a wide variety of cases, working to advance the interests of animals by urging courts to recognize their own interests and their special value to humans.

Some excellent articles discussing animal law issues have been hitting news stands lately, from pet custody to puppy mills. Here a few stories to check out.

More than 100 live and 150 dead Chihuahuas removed from property

The nightmare began in November 2008 after Glynn Johnson, an assistant fire chief with Los Angeles County, allegedly punched Karley, a six-month-old puppy, with a closed fist repeatedly and then beat her with an 11-inch rock, cracking her skull in three places, breaking her jaw, crushing her nasal cavity, collapsing her ear canal and causing her to lose an eye. Authorities charged Johnson with felony animal cruelty for an assault witnesses say was unprovoked. Johnson's trial begins today.

On April 2, 2010, Glynn Johnson, a former L.A. County assistant fire chief, was sentenced to 90 days in jail for beating Karley, a mixed breed shepherd puppy, so viciously that she had to be euthanized.

John Crosby expressed in a December 2009 news interview that he could not afford to take the dog to a veterinarian, and was unaware of the local prohibition against tethering. The dog was given over to Savannah/Chatham County Animal Control by Ms. Lam, but ultimately did not survive. John Crosby has been charged with tethering and animal neglect.

Chatham County, Georgia
Case Closed

Vermont Supreme Court hears arguments on the "value" of animal companions.

Sutter County, California
Case Closed

Once starved and neglected, Casey is now thriving.

Max can now play, cuddle and catnap without fear.

Podcasts are now available of Animal Law: The Links, The Animal Law Conference at Lewis & Clark, hosted by the Center for Animal Law Studies and the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at Lewis & Clark Law School.

I have long been an advocate of keeping animal abusers out of shelters and on more than one occasion I've criticized a judge for ordering a defendant convicted of animal abuse to work off community service hours at the local animal shelter. However, as life has a way of proving, sometimes there are exceptions to the general rule.

While animal hoarding is usually presented in the context of cats and dogs, it is not uncommon for farm animals to be victimized by this type of abuse. Indeed, given the rural, often remote locations chosen by animal hoarders, and the added demands of large animal care requirements, discovery and intervention in these cases is all the more challenging for humane agents.

Harrison County, Ohio
Act now!

Mention the word "bestiality" and you'll likely elicit one of two responses: kindergartner-like snickering, or horror. ALDF works to raise awareness of the problem so we can attack it with criminal consequences.