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On March 23, 2010 the Houston Bar Association Animal Law Section presented Continuing Legal Education: Animal Experimentation and the Law: Truth on Trial.

Dr. John Pippin discussed federal and state laws as they apply to the use of animals in research and related activities. His presentation also described how recent developments, learned via the human genome project, provide strong evidence that animal models are "bad science", with results that rarely translate into medications or cures for the human patient.

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

by Amy Bures Danna, B.A., M.S., J.D. Attorney at Law, The Clary Firm, P.C.

A large segment of our population views animals as companions and family members. We love our animals dearly, speak to them, celebrate them and enjoy an emotional bond with them. Animals reflect our humanity. Despite this, our laws often do not adequately protect, or even consider, the relationship between humans and animals, so individuals must take steps to do so.

How do we protect our animals? We have to consider things that are unpleasant to think about – emergencies, divorce and separation, our own incapacity and even our own death. We have to ask: Who will take care of my pets if I have a heart attack, if I have a stroke, if I develop a debilitating disease, if I get into a car accident, when I die? Admittedly, no one likes to think about these things, but our animals’ lives and continued well-being may very well depend on the plans we make now for things that may happen in the future.

Half a Pug Each

Published 1, September 23, 2009

A New Jersey court has handed down a ruling that may be cited in thousands of disputes over pets by divorcing or separating couples. Doreen Houseman and Eric Dare split up after 13 years as an unmarried couple in 2006 and agreed on the easy division of possessions with one notable exception: Dexter, their pet pug. Now, Judge John Tomasello has ruled that the former couple must have joint custody of the six-year-old dog — rotating every five weeks.

Originally, the trial court ruled that Dare could keep the dog but an appellate court reversed Tomasello’s decision for not considering the “subjective” value of the dog. The panel found that a dog cannot be treated as simple chattel with a (pug) face value but is more like a family heirloom or work or art with a subjective value. Under the original ruling, Houseman was paid $1,500 for her pug share.

Finally Home

Love and trust mend a dog's broken heart

Adopted dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common - the ability to teach people miraculous lessons on life. One such dog is a female German Shepherd Dog in Texas who showed her owner the meaning of courage, determination, and love - in essence, the true definition of a rescue dog.
In April 2006 Austin German Shepherd Dog Rescue (www.austingermanshepherdrescue.org) took in a nearly lifeless GSD whose history was unknown. "She was extremely ill, had a sever skin condition, and was about 30 pounds underweight," says Amy Bures Danna, generat coordinator for AGSDR, a group dedicated to rescuing in-trouble GSDs and last-chance shelter dogs. "She had heartworms, digestive tract worms, swollen organs, a fever, and sadly, an incredible fear of people."

Sen. Brownback Introduces Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act of 2009

7/29/09 US Fed. News (Pg. Unavail. Online)
2009 WLNR 14557695

US Federal News

Copyright 2009 US Fed News (HT Syndication)

July 29, 2009

Sen. Brownback Introduces Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act of 2009

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, has introduced the Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act of 2009 (S. 1435), legislation that would "amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit human-animal hybrids."

Lawyers Turn Career Into Pet Project
Animal law has become growing focus among attorneys

By MARY FLOOD | Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 4, 2008, 11:49PM

Zandra Anderson saw her legal career going to the dogs and decided to make it formal.

As tort reform legislation stalled her work in medical malpractice and personal injury, Anderson said, she decided to focus more on legal issues surrounding the pets she loves.

A Debate Over Will Benefiting Animals

By BILL MURPHY | Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Oct. 20, 2008

After her marriage soured in the mid-1980s, Ann Slemons Young left her home in Newport Beach, Calif., and moved to Houston, where she found consolation in her pets. Her passion for animal causes grew. Before dying last year, the 70-year-old mobile home park owner specified that much of her estate would go to finding homes for unwanted animals and helping set up a veterinary clinic.

Everyone agrees that Young's estate left about $2 million to $4 million to animal causes. But there is immense disagreement over which animal organization should receive the money.
Animal Law: A New Breed of Practice

By Fran Ortiz | The Houston Lawyer
May/June 2008

Animal law is an umbrella term referring to the wide array of legal issues that impact the welfare and changing status of nonhuman animals. Like environmental law before it, animal law is a subject that actually existed long before it was seen as a field in its own right, and its practitioners generally originated from other recognized areas of practice. And like environmental law did 30 years ago, the practice of animal law is gaining greater legitimacy as it becomes recognized by law schools, lawyers, and the larger community.


More U.S. Law Schools Going to the Dogs
South Texas joins those with courses that prepare students for animal issues

By SALATHEIA BRYANT | Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Oct. 20, 2007, 11:34AM

With the high-profile dogfighting case involving NFL player Michael Vick, the dog-adoption scandal with Ellen DeGeneres and hotelier Leona Helmsley leaving a $12 million trust fund to her Maltese, more dogs, it seems, are having their day in court.

The South Texas College of Law this week joins a growing number of law schools helping prepare students for such cases by offering a course on animal law as a permanent class. The three-credit course is an elective.
New law puts pets on a shorter leash
10:35 AM CDT on Monday, September 3, 2007
By Wendell Edwards / 11 News

Cheryl Carry can't remember a time when she didn't have a pet in her life.

"There were animals in the house the day I was born. I was raised spending summers on a farm,” said Carry.
For the last two years, she's been a foster parent for dogs including German Shepherds like Klouse.
But a new law that would affect dog owners like herself is giving her cause for concern.

"There's so much room for interpretation for that law that even if I do my absolute best I could get caught on the wrong side of it,” said Carry.

Lillian's Law, that took effect this weekend, makes it a felony if your dog wanders off your property and kills or injures a person.
Money Meant for Animal Causes Unused
11:40 PM CDT on Monday, July 23, 2007
By Brad Woodard | 11 News | HOUSTON METRO

Not all the money the state has collected for animal friendly groups from fees charged for license plates has been allocated.

For nearly a decade, Texans wanting to do something about the issue of pet over population have had the option of putting their money where their license plate is.

Of the additional $30 fee for animal friendly plates, $22 dollars is supposed to go for low cost spay and neuter services.

Or so everyone thought.

Getting serious about pet custody
Wisconsin is believed to be the first state to consider a law to settle
divorcing couples' battles over Fluffy and Fido.

By P.J. Huffstutter, Times Staff Writer | July 15, 2007

MADISON, WIS. — Talk about treating Fido like one of the family: Wisconsin legislators have introduced a bill that outlines how divorcing couples and the courts should handle custody battles over pets.

The measure would let couples specify, among other things, visitation rights and the right to move animals out of state. If the feuding spouses can't agree on what to do with the pet, the solution is simple: A judge can either pick a spouse — or ship it off to a local Humane Society facility or similar shelter.