California
Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state
The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.
Animal Protection Laws Ranking
Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.
California
Overall Rank: #9 (Top Tier)
- +Animals may be included in protection orders
- +Veterinarians must report suspected animal cruelty, and have immunity for doing so in good faith
- +Mandatory post-conviction possession ban
- -Seizure and pre-conviction forfeiture statute is not clear, and pre-conviction forfeiture is very limited
- -Standards for minimum acceptable care for animals (e.g. necessary food, water, shelter) are not well-defined
Animal Protection Laws of California
The Animal Protection Laws of California compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for California with an effective date on or before September 1, 2022.
Legislative Session
Active Legislation
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Recent Victories
Forcing Disclosure of Foster Farms Water Usage Records
Animal Legal Defense Fund v City of Livingston
The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the City of Livingston California for unlawfully withholding records about water usage at a Foster Farms slaughterhouse and processing plant.
Defending Animal Activists’ First Amendment Rights
Manning Beef v Los Angeles Cow Save
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a motion to dismiss Manning Beef’s meritless lawsuit against Los Angeles Cow Save for exercising their first amendment right to protest.
Exposing the Living Conditions of Hens Used by the Egg Industry
Matthew Hamity v California Department of Food and Agriculture
The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the the California Department of Food and Agriculture for violating the California Public Records Act by unlawfully withholding records regarding living conditions of hens used by the egg industry in factory farms.
Challenging a California Puppy Mill for Violating State and Local Laws
CARU Society for the Prevention v. Anthony
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the owner of California Carolina Dogs for operating an illegal puppy mill.
Animal Legal Defense Fund 2022 State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report
See the best and worst states for animal protection laws