Harrison County, Ohio
Act now!

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.

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.

Taboo as a subject to be sure, sexual crimes against animals are not exceptional, isolated incidents. Find out which states have no direct prohibitions against the sexual assault of an animal and examples of past cases.

Today's the day!! Between now and 3 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, October 27, ALDF is making the push to win the America's Giving Challenge daily $1,000 challenge, in honor of a pit bull in Oklahoma allegedly dragged to his death behind a bicycle - his abuser's trial is on Tuesday!!

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.

Late in the evening of October 11, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger opted to veto AB 243, a bill that provides broader forfeiture options for animals seized in animal abuse cases, as well as mandating post-conviction possession ban orders (no owning, maintaining, having custody of, residing with, or caring for any animal) for people convicted of animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment.

Happy anniversary, Edgar - I shall rub your softball shaped head, give you another cookie and dote on you some more. I can think of no better way to celebrate our time together.

Through November 6, the Causes application on Facebook is teaming with the Case Foundation and PARADE magazine for America's Giving Challenge - designed to encourage each and every one of us to get involved in a month long charitable giving drive in support of the charitable causes that mean the most to us. We’re asking all ALDF fans to support our cause, "Abuse an Animal, Go to Jail!"

The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Tuesday ...

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow in U.S. v. Stevens, a case involving the sale of dogfighting videos. The sale and possession of such videos has been illegal in the U.S. for a decade, but this case may result in the Supreme Court ruling that video depictions of animal cruelty are protected under the First Amendment.

ALDF Submits Amicus Brief Supporting Anti-cruelty Law

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.

I recently listened to a podcast on Scout's House Radio entitled, "The Making of Special Needs Pets." In the interview, ALDF's Chief Outside Litigation Counsel Bruce Wagman discussed how humans create special needs companions - special needs companions like Maggie, who, at the age of two, was too fearful to play.

AB 243 has cleared the California Legislature and now awaits Governor Schwarzenegger's signature. ALDF provided research and advice to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (who championed the proposal) on the drafting of the bill - a process which began more than a year ago.

A rare opportunity to save animals from intense suffering.

Jennifer from the United States Equine Rescue League recently sent us these wonderful pictures of Gracie kicking up her heals while her mom Lacy has a bite to eat. Gracie is three months old now and, according to Jennifer, she's growing like a weed.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced today that Dearborn, Michigan dog hoarder Kenneth Lang Jr is being charged with two counts of cruelty to 10 or more animals, after more than 100 live and approximately 150 dead Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes were removed from the filthy home this past July.

ALDF grant allows for necropsies of Chihuahuas found in Michigan man's freezer.

Farmed animals are among the most abused in the United States, in numbers that are so staggering as to be almost incomprehensible. Investigations and industry whistleblowers have discovered abuses on farms and in slaughterhouses that are so horrific, most people cannot even bear to witness them.

Excluded by most state animal cruelty laws and the federal Animal Welfare Act, farmed animals are particularly at risk for large-scale exploitation and abuse since the advent of factory farms, which mechanized and exponentially expanded the production of animal products at the expense of humane animal care.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently heard arguments in National Meat Association v. Brown, a case in which the meat industry is attempting to invalidate a California law designed to reduce animal suffering and protect public safety.

ALDF Attorney Dana Campbell is headed to Daytona Beach, Florida for more than just fun in the sun. On September 14, she will be training the Daytona Beach Police Department how to spot dogfighting operations.

Animal hoarding is very difficult to prevent, but it can be stopped. Contact your state legislators today and ask them to support a "First Strike and You're Out" law for those who are convicted of animal neglect or cruelty.

When ALDF discovered a chimpanzee named Barney in a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed roadside zoo, he was languishing in solitary confinement on the cement floor of a cage. Deprived of companionship and veterinary care, he suffered from severe psychological and physical distress until he escaped from his cage and was shot and killed by a zoo employee.

Volusia County, Florida
Case Closed
Take Action! Support ALDF's First Strike and You're Out law!

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.

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.

Allison Dinsmore, a middle school teacher in Palm Beach County, Florida, is facing felony charges of animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning her two cats for weeks, leaving them to die horrible deaths by starvation in her apartment. Send a polite letter to State Attorney Michael F. McAuliffe, thanking him for his work to date on the case and encouraging a strong and meaningful sentence upon conviction.

Farmed animals - those raised for the meat, dairy, and egg industries - are among the most abused in the United States, in numbers that are so staggering as to be almost incomprehensible. Find out how you can help.

Support ALDF's Annual Fund Drive today!

What are you doing to create the change animals need?

Facing over 90 criminal charges of animal cruelty related to animal hoarding, Wanda Oughton pleaded guilty to one criminal count of animal cruelty and was ordered to pay over $35,000 in restitution and fines.

Veterinarians could face penalities for reporting animal cruelty.

If it's so outrageous and incomprehensible that a man would put a shock collar on his children and later use it to taunt them - and it is without a doubt all of that - why is the public not similarly outraged by its use on family dogs?

Watch a video of the new foal, who was named "Gracie" by ALDF supporters, take her first steps.

Join the Animal Legal Defense Fund and an international coalition of attorneys, scientists, and animal advocates in opposing the proposed construction of a massive facility in Puerto Rico for the purpose of breeding primates for use in painful and traumatic laboratory experiments.

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

According to the military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, the 2009 Commission on Military Justice - "comprising law professors, private practitioners and other legal experts" - will recommend that the Secretary of Defense include an animal cruelty Article in the Code.

ALDF helps prosecutor in animal/domestic abuse case

The case of Max the cat is a milestone for animal rights.

Two misdemeanor counts of animals cruelty against Christopher M. Comins have been upgraded to the felony level. A hearing date has been continued until June 26, 2009. Locals are encouraged to support the prosecution and attend the court proceedings.

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.

The recent case of Cheyenne Cherry, a 17 year old girl who reportedly confessed unapologetically for having tortured and killed a kitten by putting her in a hot oven, has garnered well-deserved outrage from across the nation.

ALDF's report helps add real teeth to laws protecting animals.

U.S. Supreme Court will directly address the issue of animal cruelty.

When I was ten years old, my family moved out to the country, and my friend and I would play down by a big pond that both of our families shared. While playing on my family's side of the pond one day, my friend and I discovered a nest of baby mice, hidden in the tall weeds. They were tiny and pink and hairless, and their eyes were still closed.

After Being Named One of Canada's "Best Places to be An Animal Abuser," New Brunswick Poised to Strengthen Penalties for Animal Cruelty

While I wouldn't turn down gemstones, platinum, or even costume jewelry, I'm pretty sure the appropriate gift to offer me this month is tofu - I'm celebrating ten years of being vegan.

Morris County, New Jersey
Case Closed
Take Action! Support ALDF's First Strike and You're Out law!

Please help end the abusive practice of transporting horses by double-decker trailers and stop the slaughter of horses for human consumption! Contact your United States Representative today and ask them to support H.R. 305 and H.R. 503.

Send a polite letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service asking them to permanently revoke Michael Sargeant's Class B license.

The Michael Vick case made headlines around the nation - and around the globe - but as we know from the number of cases reported to ALDF week after week, dogfighting is a national epidemic.

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.

When ALDF learned that our case, ALDF v. Woodley, was being featured in the June issue of Oprah's Magazine, O, we were thrilled that this triumphant story of 300+ rescued dogs saved from a life of suffering would reach thousands, if not millions, of people and inform them about the horrors of animal hoarding.

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.

Check out this heartwarming tribute to the 325+ dogs rescued from North Carolina hoarders Barbara and Robert Woodley. In its June issue, O, the Oprah Magazine, catches up with a crew of the case's spunkiest survivors.

Help stop animal hoarding! Support ALDF's model law.

Catch up with a crew of the case's spunkiest survivors.

The incredible patience and love of very special volunteers from nearby communities and the foster families who eventually helped them on their way to their forever homes made it possible for the Woodley dogs to have their second chance at life.

Images of the dogs rescued in ALDF v. Woodley, and the conditions in which they were found, leave no doubt that hoarding is one of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty facing communities nationwide.

A proposal for mandatory bans on contact with animals following a conviction for animal neglect or cruelty.

U.S. Supreme Court to address animal cruelty in U.S. v. Stevens.

ALDF's newly published Animal Fighting Factsheet and Michael Vick case study.

As a special tribute to all mothers, both human and non-human, I felt compelled to revisit ALDF staffer Paula Mullen's blog post about the power of the mother/child bond.

Palm Beach County, Florida
Case Closed

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

The case of dogfighter Craig Boyd illustrates how failing to prosecute operators aggressively, issuing lenient sentences for the convicted, and completely ignoring accessories to the crime impede efforts to stop animal fighting and all its cruelty.

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.

Speaking out against animal abuse is one of the most powerful actions advocates can take to help animals.

This comprehensive resource discusses the most common types of animal fighting, issues common to animal fighting cases, state and federal laws and prosecuting animal fighting crimes.

Animal advocates are speaking out! Many of you have written letters in response to the sad outcome of a Pinal County, Arizona case in which a man dragged a horse behind his truck and then beat her with a PVC pipe as his 13-year-old daughter kicked the horse in the head, while both yelled at the horse to get up.

Despite the overwhelming response and public outcry, on March 19, 2009, March 19, 2009, a jury acquitted Gordon Allen Bates of Pinal County, Arizona, finding him "not guilty" after being charged with felony animal cruelty for dragging a horse behind his truck and then beating the horse with a PVC pipe while his 13-year-old daughter kicked the horse in the head, while both yelled at the horse to get up.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is taking Michael, Judy, and Gayle Keating to court for severely neglecting eight horses whom they starved - in one case, literally to death - and deprived of all veterinary care.

You don’t need to look at a calendar to know Easter is just around the corner. The stores are already stocking pastel-colored baskets and Easter greeting cards, Easter specials are being advertised on TV and some of our pious brethren are wondering aloud what to give up for Lent. And you'll probably be seeing another annual tradition that heralds this holiday: pet stores and breeders promoting "Easter bunnies" for kids.

Carter County, Oklahoma
Case Closed
Take Action!

There is a little-known practice in the dairy industry called "tail docking." According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), tail docking is a procedure by which a dairy cow's tail is either removed or partially removed.

Collier County, Florida

Not too long ago, I got a typical call from a somewhat harried prosecutor. She works as the lead attorney in the domestic violence unit of her office, loves animals and had heard that ALDF can help busy prosecutors get better results in their cases.

Pinal County, Arizona
Case Closed. Verdict: Not Guilty
Take Action!

Martin County, Texas
Case Closed
Act now!

Thank you so much to all of the Animal Legal Defense Fund supporters who made our first-ever National Justice for animals such a tremendous success!

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.

Watch ALDF's special video profile of our National Justice for Animals Week mascot—Adam, a 2-year-old cat who survived a horrific act of cruelty to inspire animal advocates around the world.

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.

California Food Safety Law Enacted in Wake of Hallmark Meat Recall Put on Hold

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.

The majority of Dr. Ferris' emergency response activities involve large scale animal hoarding cases and dog fighting seizures rather than natural disasters. Dr. Ferris is a sworn animal cruelty investigator and teaches animal cruelty investigation courses for veterinary students and other cruelty investigators across the state.