Animal Rights Law   Tags: animal_law, criminal_law  

Historically, animals were not protected by law.  Animals were considered a form of property, and thus the only laws concerning them were as protection of the financial interests of the owner.  Relatively recently, states have enacted anti-cruelty statutes, which protect animals themselves rather than just as a property value.  In addition, there are several federal statutes which aim to protect animals.   

Because animal rights law is a relatively young area of law, it is not widely taught in law schools. However, more and more schools are beginning to, as evidenced by the fact that nearly a quarter of the nation’s 180 accredited law schools now offer classes in this field.  In addition, hundreds of organizations and public interest groups have begun the fight for animal rights.  This resource guide seeks to highlight some of the key issues, cases, and statutes in this emerging area of law.

Jada West is a third year law student at the Georgia State University College of Law.  This online research guide was created as a part of an Advanced Legal Research class taught by Professor Nancy Johnson.

This online research guide was created to assist attorneys and others interested in animal rights law.  The guide focuses on federal and Georgia laws. The resource guide will introduce this relatively young practice area and will familiarize the viewer with the predominant statutes and cases in animal rights law.  It will then delve into secondary sources such as journals and books, as well as provide links to other internet research sources.  Finally, it highlights several important interest groups associated with animal rights law.  

This document is provided for informational purposes and was prepared to satisfy a law school course requirement. This document is not a substitute for legal advice provided by a qualified legal professional, and the author assumes no liability related to its usage. Furthermore, all information contained in this document is subject to change and should be verified through appropriate legal research.

Bibliographies on this Web site were prepared for educational purposes by law students as part of Nancy P. Johnson's Advanced Legal Research course. The Law Library does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided. Thorough legal research requires a researcher to update materials from date of publication; please note the semester and year the bibliography was prepared.