Legislation – Victories
Strengthening Laws that Protect Animals and Striking Down Laws Hurting Animals
The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to advance important legislation. We advocate for laws that promote or protect the lives and interests of animals, and we oppose legislation that would be detrimental to animals’ well-being.
We also work closely with the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s other programs to identify opportunities to create model legislation that address strategic legal issues in the areas of civil and criminal law, and monitor legislation that impacts animals at the federal, state, and local levels.
Victories
Updating Iowa’s Animal Protection Laws (Iowa)
An Act relating to the regulation of persons involved with animals other than livestock and certain wild animals (HF 737)
Overhauls Iowa’s badly outdated animal protection laws
Upgrading Welfare Standards for Egg-Laying Hens (Colorado)
Egg-Laying Hen Confinement Standards (HB20-1343)
Ensures hens are able to engage in vital natural behaviors
Empowering Veterinarians to Report Suspected Abuse (Kentucky)
An act relating to veterinarians (SB 21)
Permits veterinarians to report suspected cruelty.
Strengthening Protections for Carriage Horses Forced to Work in Extreme Heat (NYC)
The Carriage Horse Heat Relief Bill (Intro 1425)
Prohibits carriage horses from working when the heat index is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
Banning the Sale of Foie Gras in New York City
Bans the sale or provision of certain force-fed poultry products (Intro 1378)
Bans the sale of foie gras in New York City.
Ending Intensive Confinement in California
Prop 12 – public vote
In 2018, Californians voted to enact Prop 12, taking another major step towards ending the intensive confinement of farmed animals.
Stopping Unfair and Deceptive Pet Leasing Practices (Washington)
Concerning contracts for dogs and cats (HB 1476)
Effectively ends pet leasing schemes in the state by making pet leasing contracts void and unenforceable.
Ending Greyhound Racing in Florida
Amendment 13 – public vote
Ends the greyhound racing industry in Florida — ensuring that thousands of dogs will no longer be subjected to cruelty in the name of entertainment.
Montreal’s Proposed Pit Bull Ban
Montreal SPCA v City of Montreal
In 2016, the Animal Legal Defense Fund supported the Montreal SPCA in its efforts to overturn the city’s ban on “pit bull-type dogs.”
Ending Cownose Ray Killing Contests (Maryland)
Cownose Ray Fishery Management Plan and Moratorium on Contests (SB 143/HB 213)
Enacts a moratorium on cownose ray killing contests in Maryland.
