Nonhuman Rights
The law of nonhuman rights includes issues related to food, textiles, & leather; endangered species and habitat destruction; hunting & trapping; animals in entertainment (“Joe Exotic” and other zoos, rodeos, tv, movies, SeaWorld, horse carriage rides); animal smuggling and the exotic pet trade, to name just a few.
I am indebted to Yolanda Eisenstein's book Careers in Animal Law (2011, ABA Law Practice Management Section & Law Student Division) in creating this list.
Read Up: Law & Policy
www.aldf.org
ALDF’s attorneys and robust pro bono network is dedicated to using the legal system to promote animal rights. The law student branch of ALDF is SALDF and I was an active member at Golden Gate University. If your law school doesn't have SALDF reach out to ALDF about starting one.
The ALDF website is also a wealth of information on every topic related to the law and practice of nonhuman rights law, including pro bono opportunities, news, job postings, clerkship opportunities, links to graduate programs, information about the National Animal Law Competition, local and national campaigns, and much more.
The Animal Law Offices of Adam Karp
https://animallawyer.wordpress.com/
Mr. Karp is an animal lawyer based in the Pacific Northwest. See the “Publications” link for a list of law review articles and other high-quality, peer-reviewed secondary sources on animal law.
Center for Animal Law Students at Lewis & Clark
law.lclark.edu/centers/animal_law_studies/
Summer Animal Law Intensive: law.lclark.edu/law_reviews/animal_law_review/
Animal Law Review: law.lclark.edu/centers/animal_law_studies/curriculum/course_descriptions/summer/
Annual Animal Law Conference law.lclark.edu/centers/animal_law_studies/events/animal_law_conference/
The oldest animal law conference in the US, it typically held every October at L&C.
Michigan State University College of Law
Animal Legal & Historical Center: www.animallaw.info/. This is a searchable database of state and federal animal law statutes, cases, and ordinances. It is an invaluable collection of free primary source material for legal researchers.
Journal of Animal Law: www.animallaw.info/policy/pojouranimlawinfo.htm
Stanford Journal of Animal Law and Policy
sjalp.standford.edu
Parker Waichman LLP - Animal Rights 101
www.statutes-of-limitations.com
"Animals are and have always been an intricate part of nature and our planet. The relationship of wild animals with the rest of Earth's ecosystems is what makes life on the planet possible for all living things. Just like there are rules and laws for humans that make the world a safer and more organized place, there are laws created to protect animals and regulate the way they are treated. Animal law addresses issues such as mistreatment of animals, laboratory research on animals, and conservation of endangered species. Most of the laws are carried out on the state level, but additional laws are carried out by the federal government."
Licensing Laws and Animal Welfare: The Welfare of Wild Animals
Licensing Laws and Animal Welfare: The Welfare of Wild Animals (Palgrave MacMillan and Springer Nature), “a new book by Dr. Liz Tyson of Born Free USA, calls for reform in the way animal welfare is regulated, arguing that current legislative approaches prioritize the needs of industries that exploit animals over and above the needs of the animals themselves.”
Join Up: Organizations & Activism
https://www.pigeonrescue.org/
A first-of-its-kind organization, Palomacy saves domestic pigeons and doves from being killed in Bay Area shelters by providing avian care foster homes and adoptions. (I saw a representative in Sacramento, so I think you can foster here too!)
www.farmsanctuary.org
Farm Sanctuary operates sanctuaries in Orland, CA and Watkins Glen, NY where former abused farm animals (e.g. fowl, cows, goats, sheep) can live out their natural lives in a comfortable setting. I have vacationed in the Orland sanctuary's rental cabin, which is pretty, clean, and comfortable. Visitors get a tour of the sanctuary and you can even stay overnight with your dog! What's particularly fun is that the animals at the sanctuary are so tame now that you can actually pet them, including the normally skittish animals, like turkeys.
www.animalsasia.org - List of offices
AnimalsAsia is "devoted to the welfare of wild and urban animals in Asia. We also work towards the conservation of endangered species." Located throughout the world, their North American HQ is in San Francisco, California. I was thrilled to host Morgan Lance, US Director, at GGU through SALDF to talk about their work to end the illegal trade in bear bile and the cruel practice of using bears for this purpose.
www.bornfreeusa.org
"Our mission is to end the suffering of wild animals in captivity, rescue individual animals in need, protect wildlife - including highly endangered species - in their natural habitats, and encourage compassionate conservation globally."
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
gorillafund.org
I highly recommend Fossey's book, "Gorillas in the Mist" written about her experiences studying and preserving the gorillas of Rwanda.
www.janegoodall.org
www.njlilda.org
www.marinemammalcenter.org
Located in Northern CA, the MMM invites visitors to see rescued sea lions and seals (I'm told that they do rescue sea otters, but generally send them to the a better-equipped facility in Monterey). Marine mammals end up there because of illnesses from pollutants in the ocean water, accidental injuries from boats, and even intentional harm from humans. The facility is educational, open to the public, and very family-friendly.
Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS)
www.pawssf.org
Located in San Francisco, PAWS provides support to seniors and people with disabling illnesses who have pets, but need a little extra help in order to care for them. PAWS volunteers provide animal food, assistance with dog walking, and other services in order to help these people care for their pets, and keep these families together.
Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
https://www.pawsweb.org/
The Performing Animal Welfare Society is dedicated to the health, safety and welfare of animals used in entertainment, with a particular emphasis on elephants and big cats (“lion tamers”) Nonhumans are used in zoos, tv, movies, as roadside attractions, petting zoos, animal encounters (“swim with dolphins”). Nonhumans in this industry include horses, dogs, elephants, big cats, marine mammals (SeaWorld and similar). PAWS holds the Performing Animal Welfare Conference in Los Angeles, a terrific multi-day event.
https://defenders.org/
Turtle Island Restoration Network
The name “turtle island” refers to a Native American origin story, which provides that the Earth was formed on the back of a sea turtle. The organization began with a mission to preserve the seven majestic and endangered species of sea turtle. Their focus now includes impacts to marine life generally from overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution, development and other threats.
Inspiration
