Firsthand Report from Massive Dog Fighting Bust | ASPCA

The ASPCA busts a massive dog fighting ring - thank you for getting these dogs out of these horrific conditions.  You can help by supporting legislation that bans dog fighting.  

Firsthand Report from Massive Dog Fighting Bust | ASPCA

March Against Cruelty To Animals - Saturday November 16th

The 2013 Florida March Against Cruelty to Animals aims to bring throngs of Floridians together who care about animals, from Key West to Tallahassee and Tampa to Orlando, to march in the streets to raise awareness about the plight of animals in our society. All Floridians are invited to join us in solidarity on Saturday, November 16th at 12:00 noon at Huizenga Plaza in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.


March Against Cruelty To Animals

Service Animals | Disability Rights Florida

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice revised the regulations governing the Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements for Service Animals.

The information on this page may assist you to better understand the ADA's revised service animal rules.
You may contact Disability Rights Florida if you have problems associated with your service animal.
 1-800-342-0823 .


Service Animals | Disability Rights Florida

Purina One Beyond Dog Food Recall

More dog food recalls.  This time it's Purina, a popular grocery store brand.  Stay informed, keep your pets safe. 

Purina One Beyond Dog Food Recall

New Jersey Woman Spared Prison in Dog-in-Trash Chute Case | TIME.com

(NEWARK, N.J.) — A woman who admitted abandoning a dog found at the bottom of a trash chute in a case that became a cause celebre and led to tougher animal cruelty laws was sentenced to probation Thursday by a judge who urged the dog’s supporters to “put things in perspective.”



The Essex County prosecutor’s office had sought to have Kisha Curtis given the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to fourth-degree animal cruelty last month just before her trial was to begin. She got 18 months of probation instead.

Read more: http://nation.time.com/2013/08/29/new-jersey-woman-spared-prison-in-dog-in-trash-chute-case/#ixzz2dSvc05BQ

New Jersey Woman Spared Prison in Dog-in-Trash Chute Case | TIME.com

Iverhart Plus heartworm preventative recall

This product is widely used for the prevention of heartworms.  It sounds like it won't hurt your pet but you probably didn't get what you paid for.  

Iverhart Plus heartworm preventative recall

Iams and Eukanuba Dog and Cat Food Recall

Another pet food recall, this time for brands that are very popular.  Check out this article and then check out your pet food.  

Iams and Eukanuba Dog and Cat Food Recall

Follow up information on the Dogswell Jerky Treat withdrawal

Follow up information on the Dogswell Jerky Treat withdrawal

Safe Havens from Domestic Violence for Pet Owners

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) provides a resource for individuals seeking a safe haven from domestic violence with their pets. You can access the map by clicking on the following link: http://awionline.org/safe-havens?distance[postal_code]=32765&distance[search_distance]=20&distance[search_units]=mile.  

There are currently 1,411 safe havens in the United States that have been identified. 

In Florida, Fla. Stat 741.30 mandates that a judge consider intentional injury or killing of a family pet, as well as destruction of "property", in determining whether the petitioner is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence.  The Final Judgment of Injunction, Florida Family Law Form 12.980(d)(2), prohibits defacing or destroying Petitioner’s personal property.  It also prohibits the Respondent from approaching the residence, school, place of employment, or vehicle of the petitioner.  The Final Judgment of Injunction form also allows the judge to write in any other appropriate restrictions in my opinion.  As a court of equity, the petitioner can request a restriction that the respondent not approach her/his property, including a pet.  

Some difficulties may exist such as whether there would be a violation of the injunction if the pet were to approach the respondent.

This area of the law continues to evolve.  Write to your local government representatives and ask them to support domestic violence legislation that protects pets.  

Global Journal of Animal Law

The first issue of the Global Journal of Animal Law is now published!

Global Journal of Animal Law

Should chimpanzees have legal rights? - Ideas - The Boston Globe

This article explores the ongoing question of whether animals should be granted "personhood" for the purpose of legal rights. 

Should chimpanzees have legal rights? - Ideas - The Boston Globe

No Grapes or Raisins for Dogs! | petMD

Here is some good advice on how to avoid a potentially deadly and tragic accident.  Be especially vigilant if you expose your dogs to small children who are eating grapes or raisins as a snack.  

No Grapes or Raisins for Dogs! | petMD

Natura Again Recalls Innova, EVO, California Natural and Others

Another recall from a well known manufacturer.  Check your brands.  

Natura Again Recalls Innova, EVO, California Natural and Others

The Wild Horses’ Troubled Rescue - NYTimes.com

The problem is not going away, only getting worse.  Good interview to learn more about the plight of the wild horse.  There are not enough adopters.  Too many of these horses end up in abusive environments or worse, at slaughter. We are destroying our American heritage.    

The Wild Horses’ Troubled Rescue - NYTimes.com

Estate Planning For Your Dog /Modern Dog magazine

It seems everyone is talking about the importance of planning for our pets.  There's no excuse for not having a plan for your family, and your pets are part of your family.  If you don't have a plan, your state of residence has one for you.  It is more important to have a plan by design than one by default.  We can assist in the preparation of an estate plan that addresses not only the human members of your family, but your pets as well!

Modern Dog magazine | the best dog magazine ever

How much is your pet worth to you?

To us, our pets are priceless.  There is no amount of money that could begin to touch the pain of their loss.  Yet, state laws still view pets as property, valued at only what they might cost to replace.  If it's a shelter or rescue pet, the value is less than if the pet is a purebred or show animal.

Laws will change when enough people demand change.  See our recent post regarding a Texas case where the courts upheld the pets as property theory.

If you want to help, contact your legislators - get them to change the law.  Then, the courts have to follow.  

How much is your pet worth to you?

The Effect of State Good Samaritan Laws on Vet Malpractice Claims: Equine Legal Solutions, Documents & Contracts

The Effect of State Good Samaritan Laws on Vet Malpractice Claims: Equine Legal Solutions, Documents & Contracts

When Veterinary Malpractice Seems So Obvious That No Expert is Needed

Veterinary malpractice seems to be on the rise.  Is that because there's more malpractice or because people are taking errors more seriously?  Or, is it because we are always looking for someone else to take the blame?

The reality is, there are lots of steps you an take to resolve issues with your veterinarian short of filing a malpractice suit.  Many times the financial and emotional expense of a lawsuit doesn't address the real issue - the loss of a beloved pet.  

When Veterinary Malpractice Seems So Obvious That No Expert is Needed

Preventing Dog Bites | petMD

Preventing dog bites is the first step in keeping our dogs safe.  My dogs got into a fight one day.  I got bitten in the process and felt like I could not seek medical attention because of the possible ramifications for my dogs.  This is not the way the law should be written.  Rufus in Orlando is a perfect example.  

Preventing Dog Bites | petMD

Updates on U.S. Animal Laws | petMD

Here are some legal updates - one concerns horse slaughter in New Mexico, the other concerns the status of pets as property.

There is currently a U.S. ban on horse slaughter.  That is both good news and bad news.  The good news is we don't slaughter horses in the U.S.  The bad news is they still do in Mexico and horses are being transported to Mexico.  Obviously they do not have the same regulations that may require slaughter to be "humane."

The other is a Texas Supreme Court case that addresses the concept of pets as property and whether the loss of a pet has compensable value.  Here's what the Court said:

"We acknowledge the grief of those whose companions are negligently killed. Relational attachment is unquestionable. But it is also uncompensable. We reaffirm our long-settled rule, which tracks the overwhelming weight of authority nationally, plus the bulk of amicus curiae briefs from several pet-welfare organizations (who understand the deep emotional bonds between people and their animals): Pets are property in the eyes of the law, and we decline to permit non-economic damages rooted solely in an owner’s subjective feelings. True, a beloved companion dog is not a fungible, inanimate object like, say, a toaster. The term “property” is not a pejorative but a legal descriptor, and its use should not be misconstrued as discounting the emotional attachment that pet owners undeniably feel. Nevertheless, under established legal doctrine, recovery in pet-death cases is, barring legislative reclassification, limited to loss of value, not loss of relationship. We reverse the court of appeals’ judgment and render judgment in favor of the Petitioner."

Bottom line, pets are still property in the eyes of the law.  You can get compensated for the loss of their value, not the loss of the relationship

Updates on U.S. Animal Laws | petMD