Animal Law News

Increasing penalties for animal cruelty (New Zealand)

The New Zealand Government has decided to back a bill increasing penalties for animal cruelty. The Agriculture Minister issued a statement that he would introduce the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill 2010 into Parliament for referral to select committee.

Read more at ...more >>

Animal tracing gets go-ahead [New Zealand]

The National Animal Identification and Tracing (Nait) project, more than two years in the planning, would get government funding.

It is expected to become mandatory for beef after a short voluntary period in October next year and to be joined by venison the following year. Sheep...more >>

Will the French ban consumption of pet horses?

Horses have been a working animal used on farms, in sport, in warfare and on the plate for thousands of years, however a debate is under way in France over a move to classify the horse as a domestic pet.

The suggestion has been met with opposition by some who seek to maintain the legal...more >>

Proposed law calls for ban on cat and dog meat trade in China

Legal experts in China have proposed a ban on eating cats and dogs. The recommendation will be submitted to China's parliament, the National People's Congress, in April as part of a draft bill to deal with animal abuse.

Read more at ...more >>

Aid for animals in Haiti

A coalition of animal protection groups has arrived in Haiti to aid animals left imperiled by the devastating earthquake. The team represents a coalition – the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) – that was formed specifically to deal with the Haiti...more >>

33 dogs shot dead in what police have called a "bloody, rifle-killing frenzy" (New Zealand)

The 33 dogs shot dead in what police have called a "bloody, rifle-killing frenzy" would have cowered in fear, says the head of the SPCA. 

The dogs were shot following a row between neighbours. After a fox terrier belonging to Russell Mendoza was killed and he blamed...more >>

ResearchGATE - a social networking site for scientific researchers

ResearchGATE is a free social networking site and collaboration tool aimed at scientific researchers from all disciplines of science. It provides web applications including...more >>

Can a fish be a tool?

Can a fish be a tool? That's the legal question at the centre of a case in Arizona involving a pedicurist who used live, toothless fish to "smooth" clients' feet by sucking off dry skin. The pedicurist is suing the regulator for shutting down her business after she refused to...more >>

TV series shows biosecurity detector dog teams at work

“Dog Squad” is a New Zealand TV show featuring the work of detector dog teams in tracking down biosecurity risks at the border. The program also looks at other organisations using dogs in their work including Corrections, Police, Aviation Security, Customs and Search and Rescue...more >>

HSUS's Animal Protection Litigation Team Celebrates Five Years of Legal Victories

There are a multitude of accounts regarding animal abuse, so its heartening to see the victories such as those of the HSUS. The HSUS and The Fund For Animals joined forces in 2005 and one of their first new initiatives was the creation of an in-house group of attorneys whose singular...more >>