> Animal Law & Policy

Animal Law Organizations (1)

Legal Protections for Students Opposed to Dissection
Learn about student-choice laws and policies that protect students who object to dissection in the classroom. Find out about the current laws and what you can do to get involved.

U.S. Laws Treat Pets as Property
While cats and dogs are considered beloved family members in homes all over the world, laws in the United States take a different view by generally treating pets as property.

Humane Legislation Scorecard for the U.S. Congress
Compiled by the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the Humane Scorecard documents how U.S. legislators are voting on animal-related measures at the federal level. The scorecard tracks key votes as well as sponsorship of important pro-animal bills.

Farm Animal Legislation
Farm Sanctuary provides updates on pending and recent legislation at the national and state levels affecting farm animals.

Animal Welfare Act and Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s library provides the full text of the federal Animal Welfare Act originally passed by Congress in 1966, as well as all of its amendments. The department’s regulations also include animal care policies for laboratory animals and circus animals.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA)
Read the text of the ESA on the website of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which oversees the federal endangered species program.

International Trade Agreement on Endangered Species (CITES)
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments meant to ensure that that trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of animal species.

Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992
Read the full text of the Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Information Center.

Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006
Signed into law November 27, 2006, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) is a federal law that brands some animal activists as "terrorists."

Laws Against Dogfighting, by State
Dogfighting is illegal in all 50 states. The Humane Society of the United States publishes a guide to state laws against dogfighting, including whether it is a felony or misdemeanor, as well as whether the possession of fighting dogs or being a spectator at dogfighting events is prohibited.