Jonathan Schopf is a trial attorney with the Vincelette Law Firm in Albany, New York, where he represents individual, business and nonprofit clients.

In this continuing series of updates on former SALDF members, ALDF is proud to spotlight Elisabeth Custalow.

You’re almost a senior in high school, or just starting college, and you think you might want to spend your life helping animals? Animal law may be for you!

Animal law requires hard work, especially in cases that can continue for years. This is why the Animal Legal Defense Fund was so delighted to have Morgan Hector step aboard as a pro bono lawyer in our foie gras suit against the USDA.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the 20th Annual Animal Law Conference at Lewis & Clark Law School. The theme of this year’s conference was "Celebrating 20 Years of Animal Law: Looking Back and Looking Ahead."

Can we realistically expect judges to render trail-blazing pro-animal decisions in the afternoon when they dined on animals’ flesh in the morning?

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.

"Law and animals" is a novel field of legal research which examines how human society deals with animals and how such treatment is reflected in the law. The application process closes June 15, 2012 for the autumn semester 2012.

When the Animal Legal Defense Fund sought to ensure compliance by the Palm Springs Animal Shelter with state and local laws regarding the animals in its care, we were fortunate to get this kind of tireless assistance from Evan Dwin.

To me, a hero is someone who risks personal harm or loss (physical, financial, societal) to do what he or she believes is right.

This summer Matthew Liebman and I are excited to be teaching an intensive course at Lewis & Clark Law School entitled Animal Law Litigation.

Several months ago I read a story in the newspaper that stuck with me. It was about a man that shot and killed a 14-foot, 880-pound alligator in Texas. It wasn't the subject of the article that stuck with me, but rather the profession of the man that killed the alligator. He was an attorney.

As an undergraduate at University of North Carolina, Elizabeth Overcash led an animal interest group called Helping Paws.

The laws intended to protect animals in this country are only as strong as the people willing to defend them. Thankfully for a lonely tiger named Tony, there are legal professionals like Monica Frois, Erin Pelleteri, and Brandy Sheely.

It's that time of year, when the best and the brightest law students, coaches, and judges congregate at the National Animal Law Competitions, an inter-law school competition presented by the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark, in collaboration with the Animal Legal Defense Fund. The prestigious national competition will be hosted at UCLA School of Law, February 24-26, 2012.

ALDF wants to support and encourage dedication to the field of animal law by offering recent law graduates a free attorney membership in ALDF's Animal Law Program for one year.

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) has enjoyed tremendous success thanks to Pamela Frasch, assistant dean and executive director of CALS, and Kathy Hessler, clinical professor and director of the Animal Law Clinic at CALS -- the only animal law clinic in the country.

I just got back from Washington D.C. and a productive visit at the 2012 Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting. For those of you unfamiliar, the AALS is a non-profit educational association of 172 law schools representing more than 10,000 law faculty in the U.S., and its Annual Meeting constitutes the largest gathering of law faculty in the world.

John joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund as a litigation fellow in October 2011 and works on a variety of cases, including farmed animals with a focus on foie gras and egg laying hens, and coyote and fox penning.

Chris joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund as a litigation fellow in September 2011 after graduating from law school. Chris works on a broad range of animal issues including puppy mills, factory farms, and consumer rights.

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.

On November 9, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments in a case that will determine whether California voters or out-of-state corporations have the right to decide how farmed animals in California are treated.

For those interested in having ALDF file an amicus curiae ("friend-of-the-court") brief, please fill out this form.

Lewis & Clark Law School to launch Animal Law LL.M. (Master of Laws) program.

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

A resource guide for students and graduates interested in this dynamic and cutting-edge area of the law.

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

Geoff Fleck is a contract attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Criminal Justice Program. Geoff has most recently been employed as an Assistant State Attorney for the State Attorney's Office, 8th Judicial Circuit, Gainesville, Florida.

Diane Balkin is a contract attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Criminal Justice Program. She began her career as a prosecutor in the Denver District Attorney's Office in 1979, where she worked for 32 years.

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.

We are all familiar with the concept of "double jeopardy." It is in the Fifth Amendment, which states, in relevant part, "nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb[.]"

This week, two Animal Legal Defense Fund attorneys published a first-of-its-kind book, A Worldview of Animal Law, which analyzes legal protections for animals from a global perspective.

Download the full copy of ALDF's Animal Protection Laws of the United States of America and Canada new edition or instantly view individual jurisdictions on our interactive map.

The Journal of Animal Ethics is looking for articles, Argument pieces, reviews and review articles, that have relevance to the ethics of our treatment of animals.

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?

Recently, a program called Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims (SAAV) was featured in the "O" Magazine, in an article devoted to the link between domestic abuse and animal cruelty.

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.

Susan Abrams Dannelly has served as the Assistant State Attorney of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida since 1978. Susan is known as a tough prosecutor of murder and rape cases, but she has also worked hard to gain convictions in heinous animal cruelty cases.

Gregory Vincent was elected as Edmonson County Attorney in 1998 and continues to hold the position. Determined to win justice for the birds abused in one of the largest cockfighting operations in the Southeast, Gregory is currently aggressively prosecuting the case.

Jamie Contreras is currently Assistant Attorney General in the appellate division with the Oregon Department of Justice in Salem, Oregon. She is working on a potentially precedent-setting cruelty case appeal, in which she is arguing that the court should recognize that abused animals are indeed individual "victims."

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.

A fantastic article on OregonLive.com discusses the burgeoning field of animal law and how the Animal Legal Defense Fund is providing essential programs and services for law students.

Six students participating in a legal clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School are doing their small part to change the world.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund would never be able to use the law to advance the interests of animals without the support of legal professionals nationwide. In a series of spotlights, ALDF's Animal Law Program salutes the attorneys winning the case against cruelty.

Complementing her passion for compassion, Meena is the executive director of HEART (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers), a non-profit public charity that is a full-service humane education provider in the New York City and Chicago areas.

I don't think it ages me much to say that when I was in law school, there was no such thing as animal law, since it's still a relatively new field of study and practice.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has often reported on the connection between domestic violence and the connection to cruelty to animals. The word is spreading even more this month: "O" Magazine, the official magazine of Oprah Winfrey, featured a piece in its "Live Your Best Life" section entitled, "Shelter from the Storm."

Cailen LaBarge of Suffolk Law School discusses the mainstream's vast misconception of animal law and its place in out society.

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

On October 16-17, hundreds of law students, legal professionals, academics, and interested members of the public convened at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon for the 2010 Animal Law Conference: Animals in Crisis: Using the Laws We Have, Getting the Laws We Need.

If you are planning to attend the 18th Annual Animal Law Conference at Lewis & Clark Law School, time is of the essence! Only 50 spots remain for this popular conference which has a history of selling out early.

In addition to her teaching endeavors, Megan is a partner at the law firm of DeWitt Ross & Stevens in Madison, Wisconsin, where she concentrates her practice on complex civil litigation and appellate advocacy.

Carter Dillard is the director of litigation for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Prior to joining ALDF, Carter was appointed to the faculty of Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law, as a Westerfield Fellow.

Yesterday was a busy day, with some media interviews and introductions to the staff of Voiceless, the animal protection institute. Last evening, Voiceless held a lovely cocktail reception. Gene Sherman and Ondine Sherman of Voiceless spoke first, and then, I delivered a short talk.

So I just returned from the Taking Action for Animals Conference in D.C. and have to say that one of the things that I enjoyed most was the banquet performance by Hal Sparks.

On June 21, lawyers, regulators and policy makers converged in Washington D.C. to discuss the necessary steps to ensure that chemical testing protects public health, the environment, and animals -- using twenty-first century toxicology.

"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.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is offering new law school graduates free attorney memberships in ALDF's Animal Law Program for one year. We really hope you will join our pro bono attorney network!

Download a complimentary copy or order a copy on CD.

ALDF's Future of Animal Law Conference a huge success.

The Animal Law Instructor Website is dedicated to and for professors teaching animal law. If you are interested in gaining access to the website, please email us.

Beloved "Price Is Right" Host Joins the Animal Legal Defense Fund for Nation's Premier Gathering of Legal Luminaries Whose Careers Have Gone to the Dogs

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.

If you're in or around these areas next week, we encourage you to check out these upcoming animal law events.

The University of Washington Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) recently hosted a talk by Howard Lyman, author of "Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat."

Pamela Frasch is the assistant dean of the animal law program and executive director of the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

On February 23, 2010, the Iowa Senate passed a "puppy mill" bill designed to improve the conditions for dogs and cats at commercial breeding facilities. The bill, House File 2280, passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 41 to 9.

Daniel Press, who heads the Van Ness Feldman Native American practice group, has been engaged in the practice of Indian law since 1968. Mr. Press has been at the cutting edge of many key issues in Indian law and economic development.

My friend and ALDF attorney member, Megan Senatori, and I are debriefing at an airport bar after our weekend at Harvard Law School where we served as judges at the National Animal Law Competitions (NALC), sponsored by the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark, in collaboration with ALDF. As we discuss how impressed we were with the competition, law students, judges and the mere fact that such a competition exists, we can't help but recall our law school days.

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.

Raj Prasad has been an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office since 2005. Raj co-founded the office's Animal Protection Unit (APU) in 2008 with APA Amy Slameka. The APU has achieved a 98% conviction rate.

Tammy Somers joined the Office of the Indiana Attorney General in October of 2008 as a Deputy Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division. The Attorney General's Office shut down a puppy mill and removed 74 dogs and four horses, and then shut down a second mill, rescuing nearly 300 dogs.

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.

Gillian "Jill" Deegan is an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Botetourt County, Virginia. In addition to her other casework, she is responsible for handling all of the animal cruelty and neglect cases in her county.

There are only three days left to take advantage of early bird registration for ALDF's Future of Animal Law conference! Don't miss this excellent opportunity to explore vital issues relative to animal law and activism with attorneys, law students, professors, and activists from around the world.

This past weekend, in the dead of the New England winter, the Harvard Student Animal Legal Defense Fund played gracious host to the annual National Animal Law Competitions (NALC) sponsored by the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS), a program that Animal Legal Defense Fund is proud of. In addition to funding the competitions, most of ALDF's staff attorneys served as judges and jurors throughout the weekend.

This past weekend, law students from around the country converged on Harvard Law School to compete in the National Animal Law Competitions, put on by the Center for Animal Law Studies.

As one of the visionaries who co-founded the Animal Legal Defense Fund over three decades ago, California attorney Joyce Tischler has helped shape the emerging field of animal law.

Scott has been a prosecutor for seventeen years, serving the last eight years as the elected district attorney in Benton County, Oregon. Scott recently joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund, serving as the senior staff attorney in ALDF's Criminal Justice Program.

Bruce Wagman is a partner in the San Francisco office of Schiff Hardin, with an almost exclusive focus on a wide range of animal law cases, as well as education and consultation in the field.

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.

Construction of primate breeding facility in Puerto Rico stopped.

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.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?" Dr. King devoted his life’s work to causes of social justice and equality. In August 1994, the King Holiday and Service Act designated the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of taking a day off, Americans are challenged each year to celebrate Dr. King's legacy by giving back to their community. So on January 18, please support the Animal Legal Defense Fund in its efforts to end animal suffering and abuse.

More than 100 live and 150 dead Chihuahuas removed from property

Stephen Wells is executive director and chief executive officer of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Prior to becoming its CEO in January 2006, Stephen served as the director of ALDF’s successful Animal Law Program.

Stephan K. Otto is an attorney and director of legislative affairs for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. He is also an adjunct professor of law at Lewis & Clark Law School where he teaches an animal law legislation clinic.

Dr. Sebastien Gay is a private consultant and currently teaches in the Economics Department at the University of Chicago and launched the Program on Companion Animal Capital in 2008.

Sarah Baeckler is executive director of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, which provides sanctuary for chimpanzees discarded from the entertainment and biomedical testing industries.

Educated at Trinity College Cambridge, Peter Stevenson is a qualified lawyer. He is the Chief Policy Advisor of Compassion in World Farming. In 2004 Peter was the joint recipient of the RSPCA Lord Erskine Award.

Pamela D. Hart is director of the Animal Law Program at the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Additionally, Ms. Alexander is an adjunct professor teaching Animal Law at the University of Chicago Law School.

Dr. Bailey Norwood is an associate professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma University, where he began in 2003. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from North Carolina State University in 2001.

Matthew Liebman is a staff attorney at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, where he works in the civil litigation program. Matthew is the co-author, with Bruce Wagman and Michelle Maloney, of a forthcoming book on international and comparative animal law.

Kathy Hessler is a clinical professor of law and director of the only animal law clinic in the country. She is the first faculty member hired to teach animal law full time in a law school.

Melinda D. Merck, D.V.M., is senior director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences for the ASPCA. She is part of a team of forensic experts that have launched the Veterinary Forensics Program at University of Florida.

Dana Campbell is a long-time attorney for the Criminal Justice Program of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. She also teaches Animal Law as an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York.

Carter Dillard is currently Of Counsel to HSUS, a Research Fellow for the Optimum Population Trust, and he also holds a position on the faculty of Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law, as a Westerfield Fellow.

Earlier this year, ALDF attorney Bruce Wagman did a speaking tour in the land down under with the excellent Australia-based animal rights organization Voiceless. Among the many interviews he did while on his Australian tour, he spoke with "The Law Report" at ABC Radio National, which just posted his interview on their site as "one of the best programs of 2009."

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.

Has your prosecutor or other local law enforcement official taken a strong stand against animal cruelty, or won real justice for animal victims of a crime? Let us know! Submit your nominations for who should be honored during Animal Legal Defense Fund's National Justice for Animals Week 2010!

In Center for Biological Diversity v. United States Dept. of the Interior, 581 F.3d 1063 (9th Cir. 2009), a divided three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit determined that the United States Department of the Interior ("DOI") and the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") had failed to properly evaluate the environmental impacts, including the impact on wildlife, of a proposed land exchange.

I finally made it to my first animal law conference! After almost two years as ALDF's media relations associate, I felt it was time to schmooze with the who's who of animal law. Hosted by The Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark, in collaboration with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, it's the longest running animal law conference in the nation.

Following a three hour deliberation yesterday, a Carter County jury found Antonio Ray not guilty of animal cruelty. The defense had presented the argument that Ray did not realize he was dragging his dog behind his bicycle for approximately 1/4 mile.

It is exceedingly rare to hear anything positive regarding animals and Kentucky law. Yet despite the continuing legal and political morass surrounding the state's animal protection laws, we are happy to commend the prosecutors of Kenton County who were the first to successfully utilize the only animal protection law strengthened in Kentucky last year, when they recently secured a felony conviction against a man charged with stabbing to death two cats.

Sometimes, it's the subtle details that hit you right between the eyes. I've just returned from the annual animal law conference held at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon and throughout this excellent conference, I felt the presence of something else... something that is new and wonderful and growing.

Concord Resident's Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination as She Fights Eviction from Her Mobile Home Park Residence of Nineteen Years

The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Tuesday ...

The impact of the Federal District Court's (Western District of Kentucky) memorandum opinion in Louisville Kennel Club v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government isn't as bad as you might think from reading the web traffic on this case.

The complexities of the United States v. Stevens case are clarified in this Q & A session with ALDF Attorney Matthew Liebman. Have additional questions? Post them in the comments section and Matthew will answer them on the Q & A page.

U.S. Supreme Court Directly Addresses the Issue of Animal Cruelty

How often have you heard the phrase, "the Government has unlimited resources with which to pursue a criminal case?" Defense loyal lobbyists commonly use this rhetoric to secure increased budgets for indigent criminal defense. However, while this statement may be true in a select few celebrated federal cases, nothing could be further from the truth in the vast majority of criminal prosecutions, particularly in the state court system.

A rare opportunity to save animals from intense suffering.

In March of 1981, the U.S. Navy secretly shot and killed 648 feral burros at the Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California. In the organization's first big case, ALDF, representing the Animal Protection Institute and the Fund for Animals, argued that the Navy had violated the National Environmental Policy Act.

Happy Birthday, Animal Legal Defense Fund! I'm proud of what we have accomplished and thrilled to still be a part of you. The best is yet to come...

On Tuesday, the Animal Legal Defense Fund was back in court fighting for the eight horses who were severely neglected by Robert and Rebecca Collier of Marion, Indiana.

Find out how the field of animal law began and how the Animal Legal Defense Fund was born in this presentation, hosted by the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund of the John Marshall Law School.

I write today to express my deep gratitude to Representatives Sara Gelser and Brad Witt for sponsoring a very important bill on behalf of yours truly and ALDF, namely House Bill 2529. HB 2529 does a number of good things for animals.

The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund of the John Marshall Law School presents "The Early History of Animal Law," a lecture by ALDF Founder and General Counsel Joyce Tischler.

Last Saturday, ALDF's founder, Joyce Tischler, was granted the Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award by the American Bar Association TIPS Animal Law Committee for her exceptional work in the field of animal law.

The July/August 2009 issue of GPSOLO magazine is all about animal law, providing tons of information for practitioners interested in the field - and further validating animal law's place as a recognized part of mainstream legal practice.

The American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Animal Law Committee is honoring Joyce Tischler, Animal Legal Defense Fund founder and general counsel, with the Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award.

Volume 2 of the Stanford Journal of Animal Law and Policy (SJALP) is now online.

Lawsuit Coincides with Rescue Group's Fight to Prevent the Return of the Eight Horses to the Marion Man Charged with Abusing Them

You might think that one would have a pretty thick skin after spending close to two decades in the trenches as a prosecutor, where the carnage incurred (inflicted) as part of the human experience is very real and ugly.

Attending court proceedings for criminal animal abuse cases is a great way to demonstrate that your community cares about animal protection and expects zero tolerance for animal cruelty.

Court of Appeals to hear case against breed ban.

In 2007, the U.S. National Research Council released a report entitled "Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and A Strategy". This Report proposes a new paradigm for toxicity testing, one that moves away from using live animals and replaces them with alternatives, such as cell cultures, tissues cultures, computer models and other methods.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund would never be able to use the law to advance the interests of animals without the support of legal professionals nationwide. Meet a few of ALDF's pro bono attorneys and learn how each is winning the case against cruelty.

Animal lovers in San Juan Puerto Rico beckoned ALDF for a visit to observe and assist with local efforts to protect and enhance the lives of animals there, and I happily volunteered to go.

Give prosecutors the tools to go after dogfighters like Michael Vick.

Although animal fighting is illegal in all 50 states, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to make such crimes easier to prosecute and punishable by stronger penalties.

Matthew Liebman, ALDF's staff attorney, and Bruce Wagman, ALDF's chief outside litigation counsel, were back in court yesterday fighting for Groucho, a horse rescued from a North Carolina field where he and seven other horses were left to starve. Bruce and Matthew visited Groucho at his temporary foster home and Bruce gives us this report.

The story of the Woodley case is beautifully told by journalist, Barry Yeoman and for the first time, millions of people will get an introduction to the gut wrenching, long term suffering that the victims of animal hoarding undergo.

At a hearing today, the court granted the Equine Rescue League's petition and ordered Simpson to pay $1,831, which reflects the cost of nursing Groucho back to health.

When it comes to animals, can the privileged get away with murder?

A first for the California Court of Appeals.

Video of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Open Program on "Debating Animals as Legal Persons" is now available to watch online. This session explored the legal and normative bases for personhood and why nonhuman animals have been excluded from its ambit.

Animal fighting has been brought to the forefront of the nation's attention by the highly publicized conviction of NFL star quarterback Michael Vick and three of his associates on federal and state charges related to illegal dogfighting.

When she got her law degree, Joyce Tischler knew exactly what she loved, she just didn’t expect to make a living doing it.

Breed-specific bans and restrictions are extremely problematic. Dangerous dogs can be of any breed, or of mixed breeds. Such bans are not only difficult to enforce, but they also unfairly penalize those dogs and guardians who are behaving in accordance with the laws, while doing nothing to address one of the root causes of dangerous dogs – irresponsible guardians.

With a personality that radiates warmth, "Sunny" enthuses about rescuing animals, teaching animal law at the John Marshall Law School and coaching students for the Harvard Law School's National Animal Advocacy Closing Argument Competition.

An attorney with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Rene recently assisted with drafting an alliance agreement between ALDF and Lewis and Clark Law School, resulting in the first-of-its kind Center for Animal Law Studies.

Matthew Liebman is a senior attorney at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, where he works in the Litigation Program. Matthew graduated with distinction from Stanford Law School in 2006, where he co-founded a chapter of the Student ALDF.

If you're a lawyer, law professor, law student, legislator or other legal professional, this is a must-have resource!

Come on down and enjoy our chat with Bob!

As mentioned on our website last Fall, Puerto Rico is making some great strides in improving their animal laws, adopting a large portion of ALDF's model laws in legislation that sailed through nearly a year ago.

Animal legal education has reached a new milestone with the appointment of the nation’s first dean in the field, Pamela Frasch.

ALDF received this great news from Robyn Katz, President of the Texas Tech University Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF).

Tragic results for everyone when wild animals are kept as "pets"

The Chicago-Kent Student Animal Legal Defense Fund hosted the Chicago-Kent "Foie Gras Panel" to debate the legality, wisdom, and ramifications of Chicago's former ban on the sale of foie gras.

Has your prosecutor or other local law enforcement official taken a strong stand against animal cruelty? Let us know! Submit your nominations for who should be honored during next year’s National Justice for Animals Week!

Ask your prosecutor to enforce a Zero Tolerance for Cruelty policy in your community! Tough laws protecting animals are critical in fighting animal abuse - but laws are meaningless without vigorous enforcement. The prosecutors being honored by ALDF during National Justice for Animals Week demonstrate what remarkable power law enforcement officials have in creating real justice for animals.

ALDF’s Litigation Program scored a pair of important legal victories in the past two weeks, both of which will significantly push forward our lawsuits to protect animals.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is proud to have Congressman Cohen as a co-sponsor for National Justice for Animals Week. Congressman Cohen sponsored Tennessee's T-Bo Law, the nation's first-ever statute providing for noneconomic damages, up to $5000, in cases of intentional or negligent acts resulting in the death of a companion dog or cat.

Most recently, Mr. Brandes has been working on prosecuting large scale breeders, including a case in which more than 130 dogs were seized from the property of defendant Mahlon "Pat" Patrick.

Ms. Trout, with the assistance of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, has prevailed in securing a conviction by jury for animal abuse in the case against the owner of Puddles, a 13-year-old Bichon Frise who had suffered such severe neglect that he had to be euthanized.

Ms. Moawad's aggressive prosecution of profoundly cruel animal abuse in the White Socks kitten case helped improve the flawed sentencing system that capped the state’s ability to put the offenders away for a meaningful period of time.

Ms. Knaan helped introduce new state legislation, AB 243, into the California Assembly—this bill would allow a judge to bar a felon convicted of animal cruelty from owning animals for a certain period after their release. She is currently working on a program designed to encourage reporting of animal fighting and a program intended to educate those who have failed to properly care for their animals.

Mr. Fleck has prosecuted upwards of 50 felony animal cruelty cases, many through verdict after jury trials. Every trial has resulted in conviction, and every conviction, barring extraordinary circumstances, has resulted in a jail or prison sentence.

Recognizing that animals are among the most vulnerable members of our society and that those who mistreat animals often commit crimes against human victims, Mr. Cooley created the largest division in the country dedicated to the consistent and vigorous prosecution of animal cruelty, animal neglect, and illegal animal fighting cases.

Believing that education is the most effective tool to changing people's attitudes, Sandra has initiated, developed and/or hosted numerous training opportunities, both within the Department and with other organizations, that are designed to eliminate misconceptions about animal-related crimes and redirect the focus from a simple "humane issue" to a "law enforcement issue."

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has created National Justice for Animals Week, an annual event that is dedicated to raising public awareness nationwide about how to report animal abuse and how to work within your community to create stronger laws and assure tough enforcement. Mark your calendars for ALDF's first-ever National Justice for Animals Week, February 22-28.

The Center for Animal Law Studies held the 2009 National Animal Law Moot Court and Closing Argument Competition this past weekend at Harvard Law School. I am happy to report first-hand that the event was a terrific success!

The SALDF chapter at the University of Houston has had its ups and downs this past year, but has managed to stay focused on their primary objective - making the world a better place for all creatures, one step at a time.

Lawsuit Follows Emergency Rescue of 6 Emaciated Horses, Too Late for a 7th Who Died in Extreme Pain of Starvation

ALDF strengthens collaboration with Lewis & Clark Law School

You've been a tremendous voice for animals in 2008 - from supporting ALDF's work with generous donations to taking action on cases that needed urgent attention. Because of you, more animals have been saved and more cutting-edge laws put in place to protect them. Your actions have made a world of difference for our clients - the animals!

This report - the only one of its kind in the nation - ranks the animal protection laws of every state based on their relative strength and general comprehensiveness.

The New York State Bar Association Special Committee on Animals and the Law has a new Mentor Program and is looking for law students who wish to participate.

Joining the Animal Law Committee within the Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) of the ABA is a fantastic opportunity for all Student Animal Legal Defense Fund members and law students.

Founded just last spring, Charleston School of Law SALDF has already celebrated some early successes.

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and Center for Animal Law Studies present 16th annual gathering of legal luminaries, academics, and authors whose careers have gone to the dogs.

Panels include: Lessons Learned from the Vick Dogs, Persons or Property? The Ideal Status of Animals, and more!

There are countless avenues by which people are prompted to give more consideration to non-human animals. For Robert Knaier, it was philosophy.

Sherman v. Kissinger Ends With a Victory

Washington County, Oregon
Case Closed
Act now!

You'd think a busy attorney would be satisfied that her standard work load and untold pro bono hours were enough. Not Nicole Roth.

For Gabriela Sandoval, nothing is more important than helping those in need. And as part of ALDF's volunteer attorney network, she is putting her skills to work.

ALDF's message to legislators centered on the importance of laws aimed at reducing the enormous costs involved in caring for abused animals.

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.

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.

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

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

Until recently, there was not an animal law course being taught at Chicago-Kent College of Law; the Chicago-Kent SALDF made it their goal to change this.

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

Nearly 4,000 Legislators and Legislative Staffers Gathered in Boston

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.

From A Hoarding Case Comes A New Law

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has issued an all-new report reviewing the status of the laws of each state in the country by chronicling both their statutes and caselaw as they relate to animal neglect.

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.

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.

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.

Several academic studies have found a clear link between animal cruelty during youth and violence against humans as an adult. This link is so well established, profilers routinely use animal cruelty reports in their assessment of the possible threat criminals pose.

A sample foster care agreement form for shelters to use to establish temporary foster homes for animals.

A sample foster care application form for shelters to use to establish temporary foster homes for animals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Shelters without the resources to house large numbers of animals can adapt and use ALDF's Foster Care Application and Foster Care Agreement forms as part of a foster care program to establish temporary foster homes for the animals.

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.