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Illinois Law Expands “Pet Custody” Principles Beyond Marriage

With passage of the Companion Animal Custody Equity Act, Illinois is the first state to empower courts to consider the animal’s well-being in possession disputes regardless of marital status.

August 31, 2026 Animal Law Update

Indiana Expands Emergency Rescue Law and Modernizes Animal Cruelty Standards

Effective July 1, 2026, Indiana’s House Enrolled Act 1165 grants full civil and criminal immunity to members of the public who rescue endangered animals from locked vehicles, modernizes animal cruelty standards, amends domestic violence animal cruelty to address coercive control, and removes the monetary cap for felony theft.

June 23, 2026 Animal Law Update

Constitutional Court of Colombia Upholds—and Expands—Bullfighting Ban

In September 2025, the Constitutional Court of Colombia not only upheld a nationwide ban on bullfighting but also struck down exemptions for cockfighting and related events where cattle are injured and killed for sport.

March 3, 2026 Animal Law Update

D.C. Pets in Housing Act Aims to Remove Barriers to Housing for Multispecies Families

Effective October 2025, the D.C. Pets in Housing Amendment Act restricts “pet fees” and bans breed and size discrimination in pet-friendly rentals, supporting the policy goal of keeping companion animals with their families, regardless of socioeconomic status.

May 13, 2025 Animal Law Update

Mexico Adds Animal Protection to its Constitution

Mexico has become the tenth country to include animal protection in its constitution. The new provisions regarding animal protection and care were signed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in December 2024 and became effective immediately.

April 16, 2025 Animal Law Update

Clarifying that Fish are “Animals,” Connecticut Bans the Use of Goldfish as Carnival Prizes

With an amendment to its consumer protection law, Connecticut has made it illegal to use fish as prizes for carnivals and other games.

February 7, 2025 Animal Law Update

Massachusetts Bans the Use of Certain Wild Animals in Traveling Circus Acts

Effective January 1, 2025, Massachusetts’s Bill S.2189 bans the use of several species of wild animals in traveling shows. The new law, signed by Governor Maura Healy in summer 2024, protects elephants, big cats, nonhuman primates, bears, and giraffes from being exhibited or forced to perform in mobile acts like circuses, carnivals, and fairs.

February 7, 2025 Animal Law Update

B.C. Supreme Court Awards Shared Custody of a Dog After Changes to Family Law Act

In a first-of-its-kind ruling in Canada, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (B.C.) has awarded shared custody of a dog, referencing her best interests, animal sentience, and recent changes to the Family Law Act, which differentiate companion animals from other property in divorce proceedings.

October 2, 2024 Animal Law Update

Pet Abduction Bill Becomes Law in England and Northern Ireland

England and Northern Ireland’s Pet Abduction Act 2024 makes it a crime to abduct a companion animal.

July 10, 2024 Animal Law Update

Florida Prohibits Public Housing Policies that Restrict Dogs Based on Breed, Size, or Weight

While a positive step forward, Florida’s new law could be strengthened by being more inclusive, covering private rentals as well as public housing.

May 14, 2024 Animal Law Update