Episode #30: Introducing the World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights

Talking Animal Law with Ankita Shanker

Ankita Shanker, founder of WMILAR kindly talks to us about her vision for the World’s 1st Global Moot Competition & Moot Training Courses on Animal Rights Law. As the website explains, ‘The WMILAR combines traditional aspects of International Law (including but not limited to International Human Rights Law and International Environmental Law) with contemporary issues of animal rights. It does so through a mooting competition aimed at law students, and a 2-pronged training course aimed at law students and law teachers.’

Episode #29: Talking Animal Law in Scotland with Kirsty Jenkins, One Kind

Talking Animal Law with Kirsty Jenkins

What is on the agenda for animal law and policy in Scotland? Guest host, Alison Burns talks to Kirsty Jenkins, Policy Officer at OneKind about their campaign to ‘Stand up for pigs’ centred around the use of farrowing crates, the National Good Food Nation Plan for Scotland and it’s potential to drive up animal welfare standards and much more.

Episode #28: Championing Cats: Talking with the Cats Protection team

Talking Animal Law with Stefan Blakiston Moore and Madison Rogers

In this episode, we speak to Stefan Blakiston Moore and Madison Rogers from the national charity, Cats Protection about their work advocating for cats in law and policy, alongside their education and welfare programmes. Drawing upon the ‘Cats and Their Stats 2023’ report, published by the charity, we learn about the current welfare landscape for cats and the needs and challenges faced by their keepers. We cover the rise of selective breeding and unethical importation of cats into the UK, the trend in pedigree cat ownership, new mandatory microchipping of cats, coming into force in June 2024, the renters market and much more.

Episode #27: An interview with Claire Bass: the animal welfare wish list for 2024

Talking Animal Law with Claire Bass

In this episode we speak to Claire Bass, Senior Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs at Humane Society International-UK, who has been working in the animal protection movement for two decades, with recent significant involvement in the successful passage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act. Claire outlines her New Year’s wishlist for animals in 2024, from ending the cage age for farmed animals to wildlife crime and more.

Episode #26: Childhood exposure to violence towards animals

Talking Animal Law with Dr Roshni Ladny and Erin Leach

In this episode we welcome guests, Dr Roshni Ladny and Erin Leach to explore research about the potential impact upon children of witnessing violence towards animals. We discuss this research with our guests in the context of General Comment 26 published by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s (CRC), which implicitly recognises (as part of a broader statement about the impact upon children of the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity and exposure to pollution) the negative impact that witnessing violence inflicted on animals can have on children and conversely the positive benefits for children of interacting with animals as part of the natural world.

Episode #25: Law and veganism – extended edition

Talking Animal Law with Dr Jeanette Rowley, Dr Carlo Prisco and Ralf Muller-Amenitsch

This extended episode is co-hosted with Tamara Bedic, President of the National Lawyers Guild NYC (2022) and Chair of the NLGNYC Animal Rights Committee, and features three prominent guests talking about veganism and how it engages fundamental human rights across the UK, Germany and Italy.

Episode #24: Silent fish – legal protection for fish in commercial fisheries

Talking Animal Law with John Garratt

In this episode we discuss the capture and slaughter of fish in commercial fisheries with John Garratt,  co-author of a paper with Dr Steven McCulloch ‘Wild Fish Welfare in UK Commercial Sea Fisheries: Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Views’. This is a deep dive into fish welfare during the capture and killing processes, exploring opportunities for law reform and how measures to protect fish welfare can support other objectives.

Episode #23: Forgotten fish – legal protection at the time of killing farmed fish.

Talking Animal Law with Amro Hussain

In this episode, we discuss the legal protection of farmed fish with Amro Hussain, Senior Public Affairs Lead at The Humane League UK. In particular, we focus on the protection of welfare at the time of killing and ask why current legal protections are not sufficient. 

Episode #22: Talking Christian Orthodoxy, animals and law

Talking Animal Law with Dr Christina Nellist

Dr Christina Nellist, B.Ed; Ph.D; FOCAE. Eastern Orthodox Theologian, Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and Editor of Pan Orthodox Concern for Animals, talks about animals and theology. This episode explores how Christian theology has influenced the development of law in the Western hemisphere and how it can help us navigate some of the current dilemas about society’s treatment of animals.

Episode #21: Talking Animal Law and trophy hunting

Talking Animal Law with Professor David Bilchitz and Eduardo Goncalves.

This episode is co-hosted with Tamara Bedic, Chair of the Animal Rights Committee of the New York Guild of Lawyers (New York City division). We are talking about trophy hunting with our guests, Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting in the UK and Professor David Bilchitz,  Professor of Fundamental Rights and Constitutional Law at the University of Johannesburg and Professor of Law at the University of Reading.

Episode #20: Talking Animal Law and farrowing crates 

Talking Animal Law with Dr Stephen McCulloch

In this episode, we talk to Dr Steven McCulloch, veterinary surgeon and expert in animal welfare about the use of farrowing crates. Dr McCulloch is the author of a recent report called Banning Farrowing Crates in the UK: Transitioning to Free Farrowing to Meet the Welfare Needs of Pigs. We discuss the use of farrowing crates and the call for a ban on animal welfare grounds.

Episode #19: Animals and society in the nineteenth century Britain 

Talking Animal Law with Dr Hilda Kean

In this week’s podcast, Paula Sparks chats to Hilda Kean (a British historian who specialises in the cultural history of animals) to discuss a brief history of human and animal relationships in the light of the bicentenary anniversary of the Martin’s Act. Dr Hilda Kean discusses early legislation, the SPCA, the changing relationship between animals and humans, enforcement and how it compares with attitudes towards animal welfare today.

This episode contains references to animal cruelty, including cat skinning, that some people may find distressing.

Episode #18: How the law can help save Asian elephants

Talking Animal Law with Duncan McNair

In this week’s episode we talk to Duncan McNair, CEO of Save the Asian Elephants (‘STAE’) about elephants, and the impact that unethical elephant tourist attractions have on the welfare of the individual elephant and on the elephant population. Duncan discusses proposals for law reform that would see a ban on the marketing of certain tourist attractions in Asia involving elephants.

Episode #17: The elephant in the court

Talking Animal Law with Dr Joe Wills

Dr Joe Wills talks about a case brought by the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) on behalf of an elephant named Happy. The NhRP is seeking a writ of habeas corpus to secure Happy’s freedom, so that she can be transferred to an elephant sanctuary.  The case has recently been heard by New York’s highest court and raises fundamental issues about legal personhood.

Episode #16: Dogs: reducing attacks and promoting responsible ownership

Talking Animal Law with Dr Angus Nurse

Dr Angus Nurse is the author of a Government commissioned report: ‘Investigation of measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership amongst dog owners with dog control issues in the UK.’ 2021. Dr Nurse discusses the report and its implications for dog control policy, law and enforcement.

Episode #15: Cosmetics testing and animals.

Talking Animal Law with David Thomas and Kerry Postlewhite

David Thomas, lawyer at Advocates for Animals and Kerry Postlewhite of Cruelty Free International, discuss the use of animals for cosmetics testing. We learn about the legal landscape and current challenges.

Episode #14: The Vegan Imperative

Talking Animal Law with David Blatte

David Blatte, author of ‘The Vegan Imperative, Why We Must Give Up Meat and Why We Don’t’ talks about the book, compassion and his career as an animal law attorney. Read a sample on Amazon here.

Episode #13: A legal victory for beavers in Scotland

Talking Animal Law with Scott Blair, Rob Espin and Alan McDonnell

We hear from lawyers and the petitioner involved in a public law challenge in 2021 against the Scottish Government’s beaver killing policy. Learn about the legal issues involved and the implications of the decision for Scotland’s beaver population and beyond.

Episode #12: Sir David Amess and his legacy for animals

Talking Animal Law with David Bowles

We speak to David Bowles, RSPCA Head of Public Affairs, about some of the causes supported by the late Sir David Amess who was MP for Southend West and a consistent champion of animal welfare throughout his long career. Sir David Amess MP was tragically killed in 2021, but his legacy lives on. Join us in remembering a great advocate against animal suffering who worked for decades in Parliament to enshrine animal welfare standards in law.

Episode #11: Can lobsters, octopus and like species experience sensations such as pain?

Talking Animal Law with Claire Howard

An independent review of sentience commissioned by the UK Government and conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has concluded there is ‘strong scientific evidence decapod crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, prawns, & crayfish) and cephalopod molluscs ( such as such as octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) are sentient.’ We discuss the report and it’s findings with Claire Howard, Director of Crustacean Compassion, an award-winning animal welfare organisation dedicated to the humane treatment of decapod crustaceans.

Episode #10: Glue traps: problems and legal solutions

Talking Animal Law with Rob Espin

Rob Espin, solicitor and co-chair of A-Law’s Wildlife Law Working Group, discusses problems around the use of rodent glue traps and outlines proposed new laws designed to restrict their use.

Episode #9: A legal perspective on puppy farming and dog theft in Ireland

Talking Animal Law with Dr Stephanie Flynn

We discuss 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 Technology, Ireland. Stephanie has a particular interest in the legal treatment of dogs, and in this episode she talks about some of the challenges posed by low welfare breeding, dog theft and the pandemic.

Episode #8: Proposed restrictions on the import of dogs into Great Britain

Talking Animal Law with Marc Abraham, Sarah Dixon and Jordan Shelley

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 forefront of the fight against ‘puppy farms’ and ear cropping, respectively, for their views on import restrictions for dogs with cropped ears or docked tails or under 6 months of age. We ask specifically, should the government exempt animal rescue and re-homing organisations from these restrictions?

Episode #7: Should pet abduction be a specific offence?

Talking Animal Law with John Cooper QC

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 or does the law need reform? We talk to John Cooper QC, who has been advising the pet theft campaign.

Episode #6: Non stun slaughter and religious freedoms: finding a balance

Talking Animal Law with Dr Joe Wills

Warning: some listeners may find content distressing Dr Joe Wills from Leicester Law School, discusses the decision in Centraal Israëlitisch Consistorie van België and Others. In this case, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Member States could require pre-stunning of animals before slaughter, without infringing fundamental human rights. There has to be a balance between promoting animal welfare and respecting the rights of those in religious communities to practice their beliefs.

Episode #5: Domestic abuse: are animals a missing link?

Talking Animal Law with Dr Samantha Pickles and Rachel Horman-Brown

Warning: adult themes, not suitable for children. ‘Where animals are abused, people are at risk and where people are abused, animals are at risk.’ That is the central message of this episode, in which we consider what can be learnt about domestic abuse and coercive control when we take the time to consider the animal within the home. What does this tell us and how can we protect vulnerable family members?

Episode #4: Nowzad, ‘Praying for a miracle’

Talking Animal Law with Peter Egan

In this special edition, Peter Egan, actor, animal advocate and ambassador for the charity Nowzad, talks about the organisation behind the headlines, including the brave team who at the time of broadcast are facing danger from Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Our thoughts are also with other animal rescues in the region, including Kabul Small Animal Rescue and with all people at heightened risk in this region. The title is taken from Nowzad’s leader, Pen Farthing who in one of his early tweets, asked people to pray for a miracle.

Episode #3: Legal challenges to Government decisions on badger culling and the Ivory Act

Talking Animal Law with Alan Bates and Frances Allen

Our legal experts discuss two legal cases that made the headlines in 2020. Friends of Antique Cultural Treasures Ltd v DEFRA [2020] EWCA Civ 649, concerning a challenge to the legality of the Ivory Act 2018, and R (National Farmers Union & Anor) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2020] EWHC 1192 (Admin) challenging a decision not to grant licences to kill badgers in furtherance of its policy for control of bovine TB. Barristers Frances Allen and Alan Bates explain what judicial review is, how it was used in each of these respective cases, and what lesson can be learnt from these legal challenges.

Episode #2: Reflecting on a career in animal law with Peter Stevenson

Talking Animal Law with Peter Stevenson OBE

Peter is a qualified lawyer who has worked for nearly three decades in animal welfare. During this time, he played a leading role in winning the EU bans on veal crates, battery cages and sow stalls as well as a new status for animals in EU law as sentient beings. In October 2020, Peter was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, in recognition of his tremendous contributions in the field of animal welfare. Paula talks to Peter talks about his career, the highs and lows, successes and obstacles and what he sees as the challenges ahead.

Episode #1: Pilot

This episode introduces you to our brand new podcast, Talking Animal Law. In this episode we tell you who we are and explain why we are launching this legal podcast focusing exclusively on animals.