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.
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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.
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Other Resources
Companion Animal Theft
Animal theft is a crime, but unfortunately a common one. By some estimates, nearly 2 million companion animals are stolen every year in the United States.
Animal Fighting Facts
Animal fighting is a staged fight between two or more animals, or between a human and an animal, for the purpose of human entertainment, wagering, or sport.
Legal FAQ’s for Search and Rescue Volunteers
Volunteer attorneys from across the U.S. have donated their time to, as quickly as possible, research and write the legal memoranda that support the shorter answers provided here.
How to handle landlord/tenant disputes over companion animals
There's a catastrophic shortage of affordable, pet-friendly housing in the United States. This makes it punishingly hard for families with companion animals to find a rental.
Including Animals in Your Will
Companion animals add so much to our lives and give us joy, unconditional love and loyalty. Yet people routinely fail to provide for their animals in their wills.
Keep Animals Safe and Warm This Winter
With winter—and low temperatures—upon us, it’s important to make sure companion animals are safe and warm. Dogs, cats and other companion animals are not equipped to handle the cold.
What To Do if You Witness Animal Cruelty Online
Report what you have found to the local law enforcement agency where the poster’s account originates or to your local law enforcement agency if the account does not disclose a location.
Why Prosecutors Don’t Prosecute
Why don’t public prosecutors always do the right thing and prosecute animal abusers?
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.