Legislation, Law Enforcement and Cruelty Issues

Legislation

The following resources can assist animal advocates with researching animal welfare/protection laws in their countries and drafting new laws. Humane Society International is also available to work with NGOs on drafting and reforming their countries’ legislation. Contact us here.

Animal Legal and Historical Center, a comprehensive repository of information about animal law, including: over 1200 full text cases (US, historical, and UK), over 1400 US statutes, over 60 topics and comprehensive explanations, legal articles on a variety of animal topics and an international collection.

Animal Protection Index ranks countries on their commitment to protect animals in their legislation, improve animal welfare and recognize animal sentience. (World Animal Protection)

International and Foreign Law Research Guide includes treaties, national laws and case laws. (Georgetown University Law Library)

World Animal Net has numerous resources for anyone interested in animal protection legislation, with model language on everything from government structures to cruelty to enforcement

Model Laws offers suggested language that can serve as templates for drafting animal protection legislation. (Animal Law Resource Center)

European Enforcement Network of Animal Welfare Lawyers and Commissioners offers legal information related to animal welfare enforcement for EU member countries and lists legislation and enforcement tools by country.

International Animal Law, with a Concentration on Latin America, Asia, and Africa chapter in The State of the Animals III: 2005 by Neil Trent, Stephanie Edwards, Jennifer Felt, and Kelly O’Meara. (Humane Society Press)

Welfare Implications of the Role of Breed in Dog Bite Risk and Prevention, a study that provides data showing the inaccuracy of targeting certain breeds in order to prevent dog bites. (American Veterinary Medical Association)

Law enforcement

Police and Dog Encounters: Tactical Strategies and Effective Tools to Keep Our Communities Safe and Humane, a series of training videos and The Problem of Dog-Related Incidents and Encounters, a manual, were created for police officers and law enforcement personnel by the U.S. Department of Justice and are available for free download in English and Spanish from the National Canine Research Council.

Animal cruelty issues

Animal Hoarding: Structuring interdisciplinary responses to help people, animals, and communities at risk, edited by Gary J. Patronek, Lynn Loar, and Jane N. Nathanson, 2006. (The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium)

The Hoarding of Animals: An Update, by Randy O. Frost, PhD, Gary Patronek, VMD, PhD, Arnold Arluke, PhD, and Gail Steketee, PhD, 2015.

First Strike: The Violence Connection, a booklet that discusses the link between animal cruelty and human violence. (The Humane Society of the United States)

Understanding the Link Between Violence to Animals and People, a guidebook for criminal justice professionals by Allie Phillips, J.D. (National District Attorneys Association and ASPCA)