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.

Animal Legal Defense Fund Celebrates First-Ever National Justice for Animals Week, February 22 - 28

Spread the word! Let everyone know you have joined the fight against animal abuse by downloading one of our eye-catching National Justice for Animals Week badges.

Good news out of Arkansas this past week: the governor there finally signed off on a felony anti-cruelty law that will take effect 90 days after the current legislative session concludes. This is a truly remarkable feat for 3 reasons.

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

Animal Legal Defense Fund Releases Annual Report Ranking Animal Cruelty Laws Across the Nation

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.

Help Stop Animal Cruelty

ALDF offers a case study analysis on the criminal laws in Iowa, where the abuse of pigs on a farm supplying Hormel has raised a national outrage.

ALDF addresses caucus supporting Farm Animals Anti-Cruelty Act

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

State RICO Laws to Cover Organized Dogfighting

Country Icon Joins Over 22,000 Petition Signers in Pushing for Dairy Farm Reform

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

Animal Legal Defense Fund Dismisses Lawsuit Arguing that Corcpork, Inc. Violated Anti-Cruelty Laws by Keeping Pigs in Illegal Intensive Confinement Conditions

ALDF Applauds Oregon Lawmakers for Passing S.B. 1072

SB 26 Criminalizes Organized Dogfighting

Swift Settlement Protects Severely Neglected Toy Poodles and Birds Seized in October from AKC Champion Breeder

Found Guilty of Financing Dogfighting Operation and Viciously Killing Dogs

Final Judgment in Lee County Court Means Dogs Rescued from Sanford Hoarders Will Be in Forever Homes for Christmas

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

"Free Baby Mendes" Campaign Shines Spotlight on Unlawful Conditions, Little-Known Practice within Dairy Industry

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

Proposed Amendment to State RICO Act Could Send Dogfighters to Jail for 40 Years

Visalia, California

State Appeals Court in Los Angeles Upholds City’s Ban on "Declawing"

Dodgers Sponsor and Hot Dog Purveyor Farmer John® Under Fire in California Lawsuit Aimed to Stop Illegal Abuse of Thousands of Pigs

Eleven Neglected Cats Permanently Rescued From Horrific Living Conditions

Case Against Animal Hoarder Involved Hundreds of Dogs, Record Penalties

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

Hundreds of dogs rescued from a puppy mill near Nashville, Tennessee, last fall are now finding permanent, loving homes, thanks to a joint effort and some extra work by the county prosecutor.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund, East Bay Animal Advocates, and three Bay Area residents dismissed their lawsuit against Corcpork, Inc. California's largest industrial pig farming operation, after the facility agreed to stop the abusive practice of confining thousands of female pigs in crates so tiny that they cannot turn around or even scratch.

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.

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."

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.

Find your elected officials and local district attorneys.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It can be heartbreaking to see a neighbor’s animal suffering in a situation of neglect. Depending on the situation, there are various ways you can help the animal or animals involved. Read for more information.

It is very disturbing when your local humane organizations are not addressing the needs of animals in your community in an effective and compassionate manner. Learn what should be expected from your local humane organizations.

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.

You go into a pet store to buy some delicious treats for your oh-so-adorable companion animal, only to find out that the store is selling live animals and keeping them in appalling conditions. Learn what you can do.

When the Animal Legal Defense Fund heard about 325 dogs living in deplorable conditions in Sanford, North Carolina, we launched an investigation, then filed suit against Barbara and Robert Woodley.