2025 Annual Meeting Pet-a-Puppy Event

Legal issues with animals occur in several arenas: housing, real estate, health, agriculture and business, to name only a few.  Attorneys have only recently begun practices that include animal law, which makes it one of the more exciting fields of law. This website provides information for Committee members, attorneys and members of the public who have an interest in the growing field of animal law.

This Committee was originally conceived by the late Lorraine Power Tharp, past president of the Association, who wanted to highlight the growing field of Animals and the Law and to educate the profession, specifically the membership, about the issues that arise in the law in relation to animals.

Mission Statement

Statement
The Committee on Animals and the Law is a resource for NYSBA Members and the Public about non-human, animal related legal matters and associated humane considerations. Among the activities of the group, Committee Members: (a) monitor relevant legislation and policymaking decisions at various levels of government, and provide comment on state legislation and
associated regulations; (b) offer continuing legal education for attorneys on issues relating to animals and the law, opening those programs to members of the lay public whenever possible; (c) compile and provide information and resources on animal law and other associated humane considerations to attorneys and the public via access to the NYSBA website and printed materials; (d) respond to requests for information from attorneys and the public related to issues involving animals and the law; and (e) encourage law student interest in the multitude of areas in which they can be involved with animals and the law by various means including sponsoring the first national animal law legal writing competition for law students, and inviting law students to join the NYSBA and the Committee.

The Committee ascertains the needs and interests of NYSBA members and their clients with respect to animal legal and humane-related issues, including the enhanced legal recognition of animal interests, protections, and promotion of the well-being of animals by courts and legislatures, and develops programs to disseminate resource information to address those needs and interests. Where appropriate, the Committee solicits expertise and assistance of NYSBA committees and sections whose Members and clients are affected by these legal and human related issues.

To maximize effectiveness, the Committee solicits information and the expertise of professionals in animal health care, animal welfare, wildlife conservation, animal behavior, and other related fields in animal law and humane-related work, such as veterinarians, biologists, educators, humane law enforcement officers and non-attorney government officials.

Fourth Revision as of June 7, 2024
Third Revision as of January 27, 2011
Second Revision as of January 6, 2009
First Revision as of June 21, 2007

Subcommittees

The work of the committee is accomplished through its subcommittees:

Education Subcommittee – The Education Subcommittee plans and presents educational programs for Committee members, members of the NYS Bar Association, and the general public, including CLE programs for attorneys on issues related to animals and the laws that protect them, and programs for the general public on the laws that protect animals from abuse and cruelty.

Legislation Subcommittee – The Legislation Subcommittee monitors and reviews bills pending in the New York State legislature that relate to animals, and drafts Memoranda of Support or Opposition for bills.  Memos are reviewed by the full Committee and if approved, are circulated by the NYS Bar Association on behalf of the Committee.  This subcommittee can also propose new legislation relating to animals through the NYSBA affirmative legislation program.

Publications Subcommittee – The Publications Subcommittee publishes the official Committee publication, Laws and Paws, an online publication issued twice yearly and available online to Committee members and NYSBA members on the Committee’s webpage. The Publications Subcommittee also annually updates the NYSBA LEGALease pamphlet, Animal Law in New York State, a summary compilation of NYS laws relating to animals designed for both attorneys and non-attorneys, and available to the public on the NYSBA website.

Special Projects Subcommittee – The Special Projects Subcommittee works on projects that fall outside the work covered by the other subcommittees.  Recent special projects have involved an examination of pet insurance and development of the LEGALease pamphlet, Pet Insurance – Frequently Asked Questions; and a compilation of the federal and state laws that apply to animals coming into the U.S. from Ukraine, available on the Committee webpage.

Student Writing Competition Subcommittee – The Student Writing Competition Subcommittee oversees the Annual Animal Law Writing Competition, open to students in J.D., L.L.M., Ph.D., and S.J.D. programs in any U.S. law school; reviews annual submissions from students and determines first-place, second-place and third-place winners of the competition, whose articles are published in Laws and Paws and can be viewed on the Committee’s webpage.

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