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.
India’s Punjab and Haryana High Court Rules Animal Rights Outweigh Private Settlement
Court’s finding that animal rights transcend a private settlement entered into by the human parties is a striking example of non-anthropocentric jurisprudence.
Friend or Food? Companion Pigs Challenge Legal Distinctions
In the U.S., some municipalities are grappling with whether pigs kept as companions should be allowed in residential areas that exclude animals legally defined as “livestock.”
Federal Judge Strikes Down ‘Lake Erie Bill of Rights’
On February 27, 2020, a federal judge struck down as unconstitutional a first-of-its-kind law granting basic rights to Lake Erie.
Australian State Bans “No-Pets” Policies in Rental Housing
The Australian state of Victoria has enacted important legislation to prohibit landlords from banning companion animals in rental housing.
Michigan Becomes Latest State to Ban Eggs from Caged Hens
Michigan has become the fifth and largest egg-producing state to enact a “cage-free” egg law.
Australian Capital Territory Enacts New Law Recognizing Animal Sentience
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has passed important legislation recognizing that animals are sentient, having the ability to “subjectively feel and perceive the world around them.”
New York Becomes First State to Ban Cat Declawing
On July 22, 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Senate Bill S5532B/AB 1303, which bans the declawing of cats in the state of New York.
Colorado Passes Animal Possession Ban for Convicted Animal Abusers
Colorado’s new law prohibits those convicted of aggravated animal cruelty from owning, possessing, or caring for a “pet animal” for three to five years from their date of conviction.
New Mexico Bans Coyote-Killing Contests
On April 2, 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 76, making New Mexico the third state to ban coyote-killing contests.
Animal Cruelty Charges Dropped Because Fish Are Not “Animals” Under North Carolina Law
Animals are defined as “property” under U.S. law, which complicates efforts to advocate for them through the legal system. Property classification is not the only aspect of animals’ legal status that presents challenges.
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.
Related
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Animal Legal Defense Fund Grant Supported Washington Attorney General’s Enforcement of Animal Cruelty Law
The judge sentenced a Snohomish County resident for killing then displaying neighborhood wildlife and shooting a kitten in the eye.April 18, 2024 News -
REPORT: 95 Percent of Consumers Prefer “Climate-Friendly” Products, But Labels Oversell Emission Reductions
New report reveals how misleading labels lead to increased confusion among consumers searching for more sustainable, less environmentally damaging products.April 2, 2024 Press Release -
Lawsuit Filed Demanding FDA Respond to Petitions Seeking to Ban Ractopamine
FDA’s approval for ractopamine relied primarily on safety studies conducted by the drugmaker.March 26, 2024 Press Release
