Animal Law Update
The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Law Update is a series highlighting legal and policy developments in the rapidly emerging field of animal law.
China Reclassifies Dogs from “Livestock” to “Companion Animals”
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and mounting criticism of the dog meat trade from Chinese citizens, the national government of China has issued draft guidelines to reclassify dogs from “livestock” to “companion animals.”
Federal Farm Bill Includes Important Protections for Animals
The sweeping Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 — an omnibus federal law passed approximately every five years, commonly known as the “farm bill” — included several important provisions, including some victories for animals.
Guam Prosecutes First Felony Animal Neglect Case
When Guam enacted a felony animal cruelty law in 2011, the U.S. territory moved up 18 places on the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Protection Laws State Rankings, showing the second most improvement of U.S. states and territories that year.
New Jersey Appellate Court Upholds Bear Hunt Ban on State Lands
In 2003, after a 33-year hiatus, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council reauthorized the hunting of black bears. In the years since, the bear hunt has frequently been the subject of litigation, and has been halted by some governors and reinstated by others.
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Almond Milk Labeling Lawsuit
In an unpublished opinion issued December 20, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a class action against Blue Diamond Growers. The lawsuit alleged that the company’s almond milk products were mislabeled under FDA law.
Virginia Court of Appeals Upholds Bestiality Law
On January 15, 2019, the Virginia Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of a man who was charged with violating the state’s bestiality law after videotaping encounters he had with a woman and her dog.
New York Expands Law Allowing Companion Animals on Public Transit in Emergency Evacuations
In October 2018, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation permitting companion animals to board any public transportation service in the event of a state of emergency and evacuation.
Wins for Animals in the 2018 Midterm Election
The recent midterm election included two big wins for animal protection: Amendment 13 and Proposition 12.
New York Distinguishes Animals from Other Property in Eviction Cases
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the “No Pet Left Behind” law in August 2018. The new legislation requires officers enacting an eviction warrant to check the premises for companion animals and to coordinate their safe removal.
California Enacts Law Requiring Plant-Based Options in State Facilities
In September 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1138, a law that makes California the first state in the nation to require prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, and other state-operated facilities to offer plant-based meals.
Brussels Recognizes Animals as Sentient Beings Distinct from Objects
On November 23, 2018, the Brussels Parliament unanimously voted to recognize animals – previously categorized with property and immobile goods – as a special category.
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New White Paper Identifies Root Causes of Zoonotic Disease: Animal Exploitation
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, the preeminent legal advocate for animals, released the first in a series of white papers providing policy recommendations to reduce our heightened risk from zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 and the next global pandemic, which need only a human-animal interaction to arise.June 30, 2020 Press Release -
Whistleblowers Sought as COVID-19 Ravages Industrial Animal Agriculture Industry
The Animal Legal Defense Fund has launched a series of billboards, in English and Spanish, surrounding the JBS slaughterhouse in Greeley, Colorado — offering an online tip portal where industrial animal agriculture workers can report any concerns, including worker safety, animal abuse and depopulation, and illegal disposal of animals’ bodies.June 30, 2020 Press Release -
Court Greenlights First Amendment Case Against California Department of Food and Agriculture
The Animal Legal Defense Fund announced that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has denied the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed on behalf of Miyoko’s Creamery (Miyoko’s).June 26, 2020 Press Release
