Animal Law News
The latest news and views about animal protection law and policy in the UK and beyond. Written by our volunteer team and guest contributors.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of the Australian Alliance for Animals
by: Ankita Shanker LLB (R’dg) BCL (Oxf) BPTC (BPP) The animal protection movement is growing fast. From civil society to academics, politicians and legislators to judges, many are engaging in this...
Why should the UK ban the import of foie gras?
By Dr. Eugénie Duval, Lecturer, Essex Law School Despite recent calls by animal welfare organizations, a ban of foie gras import seems to no longer be on the agenda after the UK government...
A Deep Dive: Exploring the truth behind UK fish and crustacean welfare
by Mary Legge and Nadia Napieraj On April 13, our Student Chapter held an in-depth consideration of fish & crustacean welfare in the UK, joined online by five speakers and more than 50...
Comment on the 2022 Cecilia Moot from Thompson G. Page
Shared by Thompson G. Page, American lawyer and general counsel to The Center for Animal Litigation, Inc. Participating as a judge in the 2022 Cecilia Moot was a pure delight, and for many who...
Pioneering and Historic Resolution for Animal Welfare at UNEA
By Charlotte Johnson, student at University of Winchester On March 2, Member States at the UNEA (the United Nations Environment Assembly) adopted the ‘Animal Welfare–Environment–Sustainable...
Legal Careers in Animal Law or Relevant Fields
By Debbie Lee, student The number of students interested in animal law seems to increase every year. To work in law related to animal issues, you will have to first qualify as a solicitor, a legal...
Najin and Fatu: The Last Two Northern White Rhinos
By Hollie Bates, caseworker at Freedom Law Clinic At Ol Pejeta conservancy in Kenya’s Laikipia region, four hours north of Nairobi, the last two northern white rhinos live...
Podcast: Proposed restrictions on the import of dogs into Great Britain
With a consultation into the Commercial and Non-Commercial Movement of Pets into Great Britain due to close on 16 Oct 2021, we ask three campaigners (Marc Abraham, Sarah Dixon and Jordan Shelley) at...
The leading role of the United Kingdom during the COP19
By Dr. Meganne Natali The CITES Conference of the Parties, this year called COP19, occurred in Panama City, from 14 to 25 November. The Conference of Parties meets every 2-3 years to review...
An Analysis of the UK’s Ivory Act
By Rob Espin What follows is a summary abstract of a longer article from our latest edition of the UK Journal of Animal Law, available to members of the UK Centre for Animal Law. If you would like...
The Pressing Need for Horseshoe Crab Protection
By Mia Puplett Whilst many people might recognise the horseshoe crab’s alien-like appearance, few know that these animals are used in huge numbers in medicine. Horseshoe crabs, which are...
New legislation: Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022
By Kirsty Allen, solicitor The uncontrolled use of glue traps by members of the English and Welsh public will soon be banned thanks to the passing of new legislation. Despite their potential to...
Ireland moves to ban fur farming
By Gretta Dattan, MCL student at University College Dublin Although the cruelty of fur farming has been well known for many years1, momentum towards banning this practice only now appears to be...
The welfare of Indian street dogs
By Samantha Ray Das, law graduate of KIIT University School of Law; Advisor at Deloitte US India Indian streets are home to an estimated 40 million stray canines. One can find a pack of stray dogs...
A-LAW Members help secure legal victory for Scottish beavers
A legal win for Scottish beavers! The judgment was handed down today in the legal challenge brought by Trees for Life against the Scottish Government’s beaver killing policy. A judge decided that...
Podcast: Should pet abduction be a specific offence?
In this episode, we discuss the case for a specific crime of pet abduction. Should the criminal justice system treat the theft of companion animals in the same way as the theft of inanimate property...
A-LAW member’s sanctuary reflections at Christmas!
By Hannah L Moneagle, Director & Solicitor As with many charities, funding remains an enormous challenge for Willows and, this Christmas, it is hoped that animal lovers and supporters of Willows...
Crown Court given first suspended prison sentence ruling in animal cruelty case
By Debbie Lee A man was handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence from the Crown Court for poisoning his neighbours' cats, using a high concentration of ethylene glycol mixed with tuna...
Chile Supreme Court Dismisses Orangutan ‘Personhood’ Petition
By Dr. Joe Wills, Lecturer in Law, University of Leicester Background The name ‘orangutan’ is derived from the Malay words 'orang' (person) and 'hutan' (forest), and thus means 'person of the...
A Licence to Languish: Elephants and The Zoo Licencing Act 1981
By Hollie Bates, Caseworker at Freedom Law Clinic In the USA, the legal status of animals is currently being challenged by The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP),i whose landmark legal case seeks...
The opportunity for inclusion of animals in the Chilean Constitution
By Sabina Bravo R., Law Graduate of University of Chile On October 18, 2019, coordinated demonstrations and mass riots began in Santiago, Chile. A significant portion of society was acting in...
Orcapedia: A Guide to the Victims of the International Orca Slave Trade by Captain Paul Watson & Tiffany Humphrey
Review by Alia De Bellotte, student at The University of Law Orcapedia is a recent work from environmental activist and prolific writer Captain Paul...
Podcast: A legal perspective on puppy farming and dog theft in Ireland
In the latest episode, Paula discusses the puppy trade and dog theft in Ireland with Dr. Stephanie O’ Flynn, a Lecturer in Law in the Department of Law and Criminal Justice at Waterford Institute of...
Video: A-LAW responds to the Government’s proposed ban on privately kept primates
Watch this short video to find out more about our position on the UK Government's proposal to ban the private keeping of primates. In February 2021, our Wildlife Law and Companion Animal Law Working...
