National Justice for Animals Week

Animal Representative

Bella the dog

Bella is the representative for this year’s National Justice for Animals Week.

Bella, a 7-year-old shih tzu, was brought to a veterinary clinic with injuries indicating severe abuse, such as fractured ribs, broken teeth, bruising, and abrasions. Bella’s veterinary team reported the case to authorities, citing Illinois’ “mandatory reporting” requirement. Bella and another dog were lawfully removed from the abusive home, and Bella’s abuser was charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty. Both dogs have since been adopted into loving new homes.

Read the full story about Bella and previous years’ representatives.

Take Action

Here are actions you can take to raise awareness about animal crime victims.

• Familiarize yourself with your state animal protection laws.
• Have a plan: identify which agencies in your community are responsible for responding to criminal animal cruelty — and know how to report to them if you witness a crime against an animal.
• Sign up for Action Alerts so you can take action on national and local animal issues.
• Don’t just read the news — make it! Write a letter to the editor about an issue involving animals in your area.
• Connect with the Animal Legal Defense Fund onFacebook,Instagram and Twitter. Share this page with #NJFAW, #Justice4animals and #aldf!
• Join the Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter at your law school. Chapters are encouraged to host events to raise awareness about criminal justice issues in animal law. Please see the list of suggested events and projects below.

Suggested Events & Projects for Student Chapters

• Hold a virtual film screening through Netflix Party, TwoSeven for other streaming services, or another online connection tool and host an online discussion via Zoom afterward.
• Host a guest speaker online. Boost event attendance by hosting the event in collaboration with other student groups.
• Apply for a project grant to support your event or serve plant-based food at in-person events (or virtual events through restaurant gift cards given to attendees).
• If you live in New York, New Jersey, or Florida, help us pass Courtroom Animal Advocate Program laws! These laws allow advocates – supervised law students or volunteer lawyers – to advocate for animal victims in criminal cruelty cases. Volunteers appear in court and assist the judge by drafting briefs, conducting research, gathering information from veterinarians, animal control officers, and law enforcement officials, and making recommendations on behalf of the animal victim’s interests. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to our Legislative Affairs Program at legislation@aldf.org.
• If you live in Connecticut or Maine, host a student chapter event on how qualified law students can represent animal victims in court as Courtroom Animal Advocates.
• Watch an Animal Law Academy webinar and host a discussion afterwards with your chapter. Find discussion questions at the links below.
  • • Vindicating Pierson v. Post’s ‘Saucy Intruder’: Of Wildlife Crimes & Crimes Against Wildlife
    • Animal Victims and Restorative Justice
    • Critical Caselaw: Judicial Recognition of Animal Sentience
• Find more project ideas in our Student Chapter Program Guides on Wild Animals in the Law and Organizing for Animals in the Digital Age (if your school is remote).

Suggested Speaker Topics

• From US v. 53 Pitbulls to Desmond and Franky’s Laws: growing options for attorneys and law students to give voice to the needs of animal crime victims in court.
• Ag-Gag legislation, which criminalizes whistleblowing of egregious animal cruelty on factory farms.
• Criminal anti-cruelty laws: an overview of the laws in your state, exciting legislative developments, and how statutory carve-outs complicate protecting certain animals, like farmed animals and wildlife, from cruelty.
• The connection between domestic violence and animal cruelty.
• Vindicating Victims, Preventing Cruelty, and Doing Justice: a panel of perspectives on animal crimes in the justice system.
• Animals at the Intersection of Criminal and Constitutional Law: searches, seizures, and religious freedom.

Top Animal Defenders

Animal cruelty cases are complex, requiring determination, creativity, and persistence. Each year for National Justice for Animals Week, Top Defenders are selected for addressing animal cruelty in their communities, despite the challenges they encountered in doing so. The accomplishments of these individuals collectively represent justice for animal victims of cruelty and an increased protection of this vulnerable population in the future. These professionals have gone above and beyond for animals this year.

Learn more about this year’s Top Defenders.

• Bark Nation
  Metro Detroit, MI

• Elaine Fehrs

  Assistant District Attorney, District of South Carolina | Milwaukee, WI

• Joyce Glass, Esq.
  Fund for Animal Cruelty Treatment of Suffolk, Inc | Guilford, CT
• Jonathan Gottfried
  Assistant United States Attorney | San Juan, PR
• Jill Hollander
  Fulton County District Attorney’s Office | Atlanta, GA
• Kelly McLaughlin
  Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office | Detroit, MI
• Glen Pye
  Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office | Malvern, AR
• Judge Jennifer B. Ranji
  New Castle County Family Court Judge | Wilmington, DE
• Lara Sisto, DVM
  VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital | Downers Grove, IL
• Uinta County and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
  Evanston, WY