ALDF Testimonials

“I can’t even express how ALDF helped me in this case of Max the kitten, who might have ended up being returned to the home where he was abused. They pointed me in the right direction for research and legal authority and helped me develop several alternative arguments so the judge had several grounds on which to rest his decision. I am so grateful that we were able to save Max’s life. If he had been returned to his original home, odds are that he would not be alive today.”
–Tiffany Wasserburger, Scotts Bluff County Attorney, Neb.

"Kentucky is considered the number one state in which to be an animal abuser, and sadly, many of our rural shelters are abusive as well.  Duke and Duchess stood no chance of ever again seeing the light of day, had it not been for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.  None of us knew if Duke and Duchess would be released until the last scary moment when finally they were taken to our vet, and we were able to work together to help find them a safe place to heal. United Rescues of Kentucky was proud to work with ALDF in this endeavor, and will forever be grateful on behalf of Duke and Duchess."
–Beverly McChesney, Board of Directors, United Rescues of Kentucky, Inc. 

"We were very surprised and upset when we received a judge's order this past summer stating that the horses were to be returned to Robert Collier. That is when I asked for ALDF's help, as the volunteers of USERL could not bear the thought of these gentle souls being returned to their former life of abuse and neglect. Were it not for the quick action of the attorneys at ALDF, I fear that we would not have been able to act fast enough to prevent the horses' return."
–Jennifer Hack, Executive Director, United States Equine Rescue League

"ALDF has been an incomparable asset to the Oregon Humane Society. In the case of Sierra the pit bull, ALDF assisted with the lien foreclosure, which allowed the Oregon Humane Society to gain quick custody of Sierra and get her into a foster program for some much needed love and socialization. The Oregon Humane Society is grateful to have the ALDF as a partner on many of our investigations."
–Bonnie Helzer, Lead Investigator, Oregon Humane Society

"I wanted to take a moment and thank you for your presentation. The information you provided was invaluable and will make a huge impact in the service we provide to the public and the animals. After conversation with the other Animal Protection Officers I know they are already implementing the tools you supplied."
–Nicole Montano, Lead Animal Protection Officer, Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service, in a letter to Scott Heiser, Director of ALDF’s Criminal Justice Program

“Thank you for the seminar entitled “The Hows and Whys of Animal Cruelty Prosecution.” The presentation by you and Deborah Knaan was one of the most well received of the year. Several of the audience members commented on how timely and relevant they found your discussion of animal cruelty prosecutions and your description of the practical assistance available from the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Your discussion also provided valuable insight into the intersection between animal cruelty and other crimes and forms of violence. Thank you for your time, expertise, and willingness to travel to Los Angeles to provide training on an important area of criminal prosecutions.”
–Steve Cooley, Los Angeles County District Attorney, in a letter to Scott Heiser, Director of ALDF’s Criminal Justice Program

“ALDF’s financial support of this effort to obtain accountability for allegedly cruel treatment of all animals by those charged with upholding those laws was indispensable. Without ALDF support, it would have been virtually impossible to cover the court costs and numerous hours spent encouraging the highest court in the State of Washington to hear the matter. While the poor calf was the impetus, this case will affect all victims of criminal activity – human and nonhuman alike.”
–Adam Karp, Animal Law Attorney, referring to a case taken to the Washington Supreme Court in which two sheriff’s deputies brutally tasered a calf to death

“It takes a movement of dedicated people – like ALDF, animal rights organizations and animal lawyers to push the envelope – to show that societal norms must be incorporated into the law. Animals are not mere property. They are sentient beings and need to be treated as such.”
–Jennifer A. Dietz, Esq., Animal Law Attorneys, LLC

"As a Johnny-Come-Lately in 1981, I was not present at the Creation. I have always assumed that Joyce Tischler said, "Let there be Attorneys for Animal Rights." And there was. I was there when AFAR's name was changed to the "Animal Legal Defense Fund," for that took place in my living room amongst the rolled-up sleeping bags that passed for overnight accommodations for the board in those early days. I was making Joyce Tischler another sandwich in the kitchen during the final vote. AFAR/ALDF was a terrific idea, one whose significance has grown over the years, an idea that will reverberate deep within the future history of the struggle for the legal rights of nonhuman animals. As much as I gave to ALDF over the years in which I was president, I confess that it always returned much more to me. Had I not existed, the world would be the same. Not true for ALDF."
–Steve Wise, former ALDF president

“The Animal Legal Defense Fund is the one legal organization whose clients really are all innocent. Who knew there could be lawyers you could love?”
–Dan Piraro, Creator of the Cartoon ‘Bizarro’

“I think if the animals could talk, they would say that ALDF makes the world a better place.”
–Nolan Wilson, NASCAR Driver

“I have been a lawyer with the Department of Justice for 20 years and don’t have the heart to do the tough work you handle, but my heart is with you.”
–Lisa Olson, ALDF donor

“What would this world be without animals? My gratitude runs deep for ALDF. Thanks to their tireless efforts, and often emotionally draining work, the innocent animals in this world have a voice on their side so they have a chance to survive and thrive. My dog Ben reminds me every day what an important role ALDF plays.”
–Michelle Ullrich-Kownacki, “Mom” to Jack Russell, Ben, rescued in ALDF’s Woodley case & owner of Paws pet boutique

“I couldn’t have gotten through law school without ALDF. The skills I learned during my summer clerkship are a thousand times more valuable than all three years of casebooks and lectures combined. With law school behind me, I am thrilled to join ALDF in the animal advocacy community, working to advance protections for chimpanzees and all animals.”
–Sarah Baeckler, Executive Director of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

“I cannot begin to imagine what advances will be made in defense of animal rights should your organization remain able to continually provide all prosecutors with the same level of service that you provided me.”
–Mandy M. Trout, Deputy Attorney, Platte County, Neb.

“ALDF helped bring resources we never knew existed to bear on a very difficult animal abuse case. ALDF has been in the vanguard of shaping progressive animal abuse laws in Oregon and other states and in training lawyers and law enforcement in dealing with cruelty and neglect cases.”
–Joshua K. Marquis, District Attorney, Clastop County, Ore.

“ALDF offered invaluable assistance in determining where Pennsylvania fits in the landscape of animal law and permitted us to approach the Oxford [puppy mill] case with a full understanding of the dimensions of the problem of animal hoarding.”
–Lorraine Finnegan, Assistant District Attorney, Chester County, Pa.

“In an animal cruelty matter involving thousands of turtles, ALDF came to the rescue, providing me with the experts I needed to prove my case.”
–Don Cocek, Deputy City Attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office