Animal Law

Leona Helmsley Left $5-$8 Billion in Trust for Stray Dogs, Other US Canines

If it holds up in court, hotel magnate Leona Helmsley has left in trust a staggering sum to help care for the nation’s dogs after her death—somewhere between $5 and $8 billion. “Even if the resulting total is at the low end of the estimate—$5 billion or so—the trust will…

Jul 1, 2008 11:32 PM CDT

Judge Cuts $10M from Leona Helmsley’s $12M Bequest to Dog

The pet dog of deceased Leona Helmsley is losing $10 million of the $12 million that the 87-year-old hotel heiress left him in her will when she died last year, disinheriting two grandchildren. But the elimination of most of Trouble’s trust fund isn’t expected to put a dent in the…

Jun 16, 2008 5:43 PM CDT

Pet Food Companies to Pay $24M Settlement

Companies that sold contaminated pet food have agreed to pay $24 million to resolve more than 100 consolidated lawsuits. The proposed $24 million settlement is in addition to $8 million already paid to pet owners, USA Today reports. Legal fees and expenses will be paid from the fund. The agreement…

May 23, 2008 1:56 PM CDT

‘Sexy’ Seattle Pet: Backyard Chicken

Seattle residents are crowing about an increasingly popular pet: the backyard chicken. Under longtime zoning law, it is legal to keep a small number of chickens in this major metropolitan area, the Seattle Times reports. But chickens are “sexy” right now, according to Angelina Shell of the Seattle Tilth’s city…

May 19, 2008 10:09 PM CDT

Foie Gras Is Once Again Legal in Chicago

The Chicago City Council has repealed a controversial ban on the sale of foie gras in the city, heeding the mayor’s plea to put the item back on the menu. Mayor Richard Daley had previously called the ban “the silliest law the city council has ever passed,” the Chicago Tribune…

May 15, 2008 2:16 PM CDT

Wolverine Loses But Polar Bear Wins in Endangered Species Rulings

Updated: An unexpected February sighting of a wild wolverine in California, where the animal was thought to be extinct, has sparked a renewed, but unsuccessful, call for protection under the Endangered Species Act. But, due to shrinking habitat caused by global warming, the polar bear won such protection today under…

May 14, 2008 4:00 PM CDT

Driver Kills Dog, Sues Owners for Damages

A Minnesota driver who struck and killed a dog has sued its owner for damages. Jeffery Ely maintains he deserves about $1,100 compensation for damage to his car and the time he had to take off work for repairs. The dog was a miniature pinscher named Fester after the uncle…

May 9, 2008 4:18 PM CDT

Animal Rights Lawyers Seeking ‘Holy Grail’ Gain Smaller Victories

For animal rights lawyers, the holy grail is a court decision that would allow them to sue in the name of animals. They were hopeful a few years ago when the San Francisco-based 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals said Congress could give lawyers that ability, the New York Sun…

May 6, 2008 3:24 PM CDT

Irate Judge Rules in Dog Custody Case: Give Puddles Back!

The judge has ruled in a dog custody case in Texas that attracted international attention. Despite Grace Saenz’ claim that Puddles, a Shih Tzu, was in a bad state when a neighbor asked her to care for the pet 10 months ago, the dog must be returned to her original…

Apr 25, 2008 7:41 PM CDT

9th Circuit Stays Execution of 85 Sea Lions, Siding Against Salmon

Updated: Their only crime was eating salmon. So execution, at least for now, is too harsh a punishment for up to 85 sea lions scheduled for extermination this year, in an effort to protect the diminishing Chinook salmon run in the Pacific Northwest. That’s what the San Francisco-based 9th U.S.…

Apr 24, 2008 3:57 PM CDT

Man Charged With Assault in Weapon Case Involving Hurled Hedgehog

A New Zealand man is facing a criminal assault charge for hurling a weapon—that is to say, a hedgehog—about 16 feet at a 15-year-old victim, bruising and puncturing his leg. “It was unclear whether the hedgehog was still alive when it was thrown, though it was dead when collected as…

Apr 11, 2008 10:12 PM CDT

Christians Sue Over U.K. Human-Animal Embryo Licenses

A Christian group that includes lawyers and doctors says it will sue to try to overturn licenses granted to academics at two United Kingdom institutions to create human-animal hybrid embryos for medical research purposes. One such embryo reportedly has already been created under the licenses granted by the Human Fertilisation…

Apr 9, 2008 8:39 PM CDT

‘Circles’ Was a Sitting Duck Until Order of Protection Granted

Circles the duck has an order of protection that bars any quack-pot neighboring youths from harming her. Circles’ owner, Janet Lippincott of Mastic, N.Y., told Newsday the duck was injured when a group of teens fired at her with pellet guns. Court papers say one pellet pierced Circle’s larynx and…

Apr 4, 2008 5:38 PM CDT

Rover Now Has Legal Muscle as Animal Law Field Emerges

Just eight years ago, only nine ABA-accredited law schools offered courses in the fledgling field of animal. Now? More than 90 of the 196 accredited schools are on the list. No longer are animals simply considered property, especially as they are being named as beneficiaries, become subjects of lawsuits and…

Apr 3, 2008 5:45 PM CDT

Pet Food Suits Resolved in Global Settlement

Canadian pet food distributor Menu Foods has reached an agreement in principle to settle pet food lawsuits consolidated before a federal judge in New Jersey. Terms of the agreement won’t be disclosed until the agreement is finalized May 1, the New Jersey Law Journal reports. The suits say at least…

Apr 3, 2008 4:16 PM CDT