THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL LAW

Predicting the course philosophical, moral, cultural, or legal change is problematic at best, because it is the task of a society’s intellectuals to change its ideas. At root, it was ideas that drove the American founding, and other ideas that drove its antithesis. It has been ideas that has driven the recognition of Animal Rights, and its natural consequence of Animal Law. When there are legitimate needs, eventually they are met.

In furtherance of Helen Jones’s and International Society for Animal Rights’ decades-old mission, ISAR will continue to support the programs and activities we have in the past 

Over the years, ISAR has made a difference, much of which has been described and implied in this website. In closing, we have many stories to choose from, but a recently received email from the Lewis and Clark Center for Animal Studies regarding one of its LL.M students (whom ISAR supported) says this:

Since returning home to Chile, Attorney Plaza has founded the Center for Chilean Animal Law Studies CEDA Chile (Centro de Estudios de Derecho Animal CEDA Chile, in Spanish), the first center specializing in Chilean Animal Law. In addition to the Animal Law center, he has been invited as a guest lecturer in Animal Law courses taught at Chilean universities.

In his own words, Mr. Plaza has acknowledged his gratitude to ISAR stating:

I think it is enough for you to get a sense of the tremendous impact that your aid is having —and will have—on non-human animals. For me, the possibility of having studied at Lewis & Clark and CALS was a turning point in my professional, intellectual and philosophical development, and none of this would have been possible without your help, your vision, and of course, all the work that you have developed for years. I think it is impossible for me to find the proper words of appreciation to express what I feel. ISAR will always be an important part of my life and I hope to be a rightful successor to your work and legacy. I hope that one day I will be able to do the same for others, and in this way contribute to the improvement of the relationship between human and non-human animals, from the field of law and from other fields of action. 

ISAR has been gratified to see that the Animal Law movement that began in the United States continues to gather strong momentum in our country.  Equally gratifying, is that throughout the world other individuals, entities and even governments have embraced the noble teaching and practice of Animal Law.

Just one of many examples is an action taken recently by the Peruvian Congress. As a public health policy, the law requires mandatory spaying and neutering of dogs and cats to reduce pet overpopulation. The legislation also requires local government to provide low-cost sterilization services to pet owners.

In translation from Spanish, the following is the statement of Peru’s Congress’s mission (italics in original):

. . . to achieve the highest level of protection and welfare of pets, whatever their circumstances. The sterilization of animals and their responsible buying . . .  and selling, as fundamental pillars to avoid overpopulation and abandonment. The International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR), postulates mandatory sterilization regulations.” 

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