Throughout history, humans have raised and confined animals for food, clothing and research, trained animals for entertainment, fought animals for sport, bought and sold animals for profit, and lived with animals for companionship.
The law under the umbrella of 'animal law' regulates these human uses and interactions with animals. Animal law is extremely diverse, cutting across every substantive area, jurisdictional boundary, and source of legal authority. Although most countries have enacted Animal Welfare Acts and Endangered Species Laws, the law is currently designed primarily to protect the interests of humans as owners of animals, or as users of environmental resources. The animals' inherent interests, if considered, are secondary.
This text surveys the laws allegedly designed to protect animals, identifies the themes that link them, analyzes and critiques them in light of their consideration and protection of animals' interests, and explores characteristics of a future legal system that would adequately protect animals' inherent interests.
Acknowledgements
Animals and the Law: The Basics
Anti-Cruelty Laws
Animal Welfare Laws
Animal Control and Management Laws
Animals, the Constitution and the Private Law
The Future: Animals as Subjects, An-All-Inclusive Legal Regime
Notes and References
Index
Joan Schaffner is Associate Professor of Law at George Washington University Law School, USA.
A well-written and wide ranging addition to the growing animal law canon. This work provides a valuable resource to students, researchers, lawyers, judges, advocates, and academics. It offers insight into animal law that it is useful to non lawyers as well. The book explores the most important themes in animal law while addressing the fundamental theories upon which that work is based.
- Kathy Hessler, Lewis & Clark Law School, USA.
"Rather breath taking in scope, this new scholarly book by Professor Schaffner seeks to introduce the reader to the world of animal law, ethic and public policy. While there is a primary focus on the US, the book also includes a number of issues and examples from around the globe. It is more complex than a simple recitation of the present law, as it also is a critic of the failures of the present system and an introduction to the ethics which support enhancing the legal status animals. It is an excellent introduction to the complex and contradictory world of animal law, ethics and public policy."
- David Favre, Michigan State University College of Law, USA