Legal Resources
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The Animal Legal Defense Fund provides these resources to help you learn how animal protection laws function within the legal system.
Animals and the Law
The field of animal law is complex. Use these articles as a guide to understand the fundamentals.
Laws that Protect Animals
In the United States, animal protection laws can be enacted and enforced at every level of government. Most animal protection legislation happens at the state level.
The Link Between Cruelty to Animals and Violence Toward Humans
People who hurt animals don't stop with animals. There is an established link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans — regularly referred to as “The Link.”
Federal Laws and Agencies Involved With Animal Testing
This is a brief guide to the main federal laws and agencies involved with animal testing. As you'll see, there are few laws protecting laboratory animals, and little regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with these laws.
Animal Law 101
Simply defined, animal law is the combination of statutory and case law that relates to or has an impact on nonhuman animals. It encompasses companion animals, wildlife, and animals used in entertainment, research, and raised for food.
What You Can Do
Do you need help with a specific legal situation involving an animal? Our guides below are provided with that end in mind.
How to Help a Neighbor’s Neglected Animal
It can be heartbreaking to see a neighbor’s animal suffering in a situation of neglect. Depending on the situation, there are various ways you can help the animal or animals involved.
What To Do If Your Dog is in Danger of Being Declared Vicious, Or If Your Dog Has Bitten Someone Who is Now Suing You
You may be sued if your dog bites a person or attacks another animal.
How to Find an Attorney to Help You With Your Animal-related Issues
Animal law is a relatively new, and growing, specialty within the law, and an increasing number of lawyers specialize in cases involving animals. In most cases it is not necessary to find an attorney who specializes in animal law specifically.
What To Do When You Believe a Vet Has Harmed or Killed Your Companion Animal
You trust your veterinarian to diagnose, treat, and care for your animal family members. But what if you suspect that your veterinarian made a mistake — and that the mistake has hurt your animal?
What To Do If You Are Involved in a Custody Battle Over Your Companion Animal
This is a basic overview of what to expect if you are involved in a custody battle involving animals, along with helpful tips. It's not a substitute for an attorney.
How to help a neighbor’s neglected animal
Animal neglect is the failure to provide basic care required for an animal to thrive. At first glance, such cases may seem less egregious than a single, brutal act of violent abuse, but severe neglect can mean extended periods of extreme suffering.
Tips for Writing to Law Enforcement
Whether writing to a prosecutor, sheriff, investigator or judge, there is no substitute for the most effective way of communicating: letters.
Damages for Death or Injury of an Animal
This is a broad overview intended to be useful to caregivers of animals who have been injured or killed.
Other Resources
Craigslist Pet Ads: What You’ll See, How to Reply, and What to Expect in Response
Concerned about animal abuse facilitated by Craigslist posts, an Animal Legal Defense Fund supporter began responding to “pet” ads in September 2020. After responding to more than 400 ads, the supporter shares their experiences and tips for helping protect animals being traded on the platform.
Animal Sales and Rehoming Scams: How to Spot Them
While Craigslist officially bans the sale of companion animals, in reality such sales are common on the platform, with sellers often using the term “rehoming” in order to skirt the ban. Scams are widespread, with unethical breeders and dealers frequently selling animals who are sick, stolen, or even nonexistent.
Fur Sale Bans
Retail pet sale bans are a powerful way to fight back against puppy mills, and you could pass one in your own community!
Animal Law Course Grants
The Animal Legal Defense Fund is expanding its existing “seed grant” program to also offer emergency grants to law schools who have had to cancel an animal law course for COVID-19 related reasons.
Identifying signs of dogfighting
It’s critical to stay vigilant and report suspected animal cruelty to local law enforcement whenever you see it. Here are the facts about dogfighting and the warning signs you should know.
Industrial Animal Agriculture: Exploiting Workers and Animals
The animal agriculture industry — which is primarily comprised of enormous, multinational corporations — profits from exploiting animals and humans alike.
COVID-19 Policy Recommendations
Pandemics have not only been predicted, they are also preventable. While the country continues to fight COVID-19, we must also prepare for — with the intention to prevent — the next pandemic. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is developing a series of papers, each outlining policy strategies calibrated to reduce specific zoonotic risks.
Prohibiting Circuses and Traveling Acts that Use Animals
Wild animals used in circuses and traveling acts endure severe abuse and neglect. Help protect these animals by passing a ban on the use of animals in circuses and traveling acts in your own city and county!
Ways to Give
Since 1979, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been the leader in the fight to win animals the legal protection they so desperately need—and deserve. Your generous support is vital to our continued success.