An Introduction to Animals and the Law

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.

Author: Joan E. Schaffner
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
Published: 11/03/2010
Pages: 274
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.40w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780230235632

Review Citation(s):
Choice 01/01/2012

About the Author
JOAN SCHAFFNER is an Associate Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School and Directs the George Washington Animal Law Program. She is the 2009-10Chair, ABA TIPS Animal Law Committee; Founding Chair. AALS Section on Animal Law; and Fellow, Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.