The Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Texas announced the winners of its first annual student writing competition at the Animal Law Institute that took place on March 9, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. Students at Texas Law schools were asked to write a paper on any topic related to animal law. Winners were as follows:

Winners at the Animal Law Institute, with Professor Fran Ortiz

First place – Sarah L. Weinstein, South Texas College of Law, Animals and the Antiquities Act of 1906

Second place – Lisa Turner, Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Valuing Companion Animals in Tort: Why the Texas Supreme Court Should Revisit and Reform Its 1891 Holding in Heiligmann v. Rose to Allow Companion Animal Owners to Plead Sentimental Value Damages

Third place – Cathryn Copeland, SMU Dedman School of Law, More than the Sum of Their Parts: Why Animals Should Not Constitute Patentable Subject Matter

Honorable Mention – Melissa Ann Lesniak, St. Mary’s University School of Law, Comingling Canines and Other Unique Considerations of the Legal Rules of Professional Conduct in Cases Involving Animals

Founded in late 2004, the American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section’s Animal Law Committee addresses all issues concerning the intersection of animals and the law.  The status of animals in our legal system, and in our society at large, is in flux, and attorneys are discovering creative and interesting ways to use the rule of law in many different arenas to create a just world for all.  These arenas involve a vast array of human/animal interactions, including estate planning for companion animals, liability standards and insurance coverage when an animal causes harm, appropriate compensation when an animal is killed or injured, standards of care and accountability for animals used in industry and agriculture, expanding notions of what constitutes “cruelty to animals,” and the competing interests of wild animals and humans in dwindling resources.  The mission of the Animal Law Committee is to be the instrument of a paradigm shift in the way the law addresses animals within our society.

The Animal Law Committee has approximately 380 members and is growing.  The Committee has been extremely active since its inception providing its members with a variety of resources to promote professional development while also promoting the protection of animals though the law.  The Animal Law Committee has published three books, hosted a number of CLE programs, and created a podcast series.  The Animal Law Committee boasts twelve substantive subcommittees, produces three newsletters a year, maintains an active Facebook page to keep their membership up-to-date on the developments in animal law globally, and annually recognizes the outstanding achievements of one of its members through the Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award.  Through the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, the Animal Law Committee, has sought ABA approval of a number of policy initiatives including the adoption of a Model Act Governing Standards for the Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals while also being active in a number of public interest projects, including the establishment of the Animal Disaster Network and a continuing and expanding humane education project.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) indicates that one of the largest contributors to the growth of Animal Law as a course of study in law schools is through the efforts of student ALDF (SALDF) chapters. SALDF chapters have been established at seven of the nine Texas law schools. This month’s spotlight focuses on one such chapter, the Animal Law Society established at South Texas College of Law in Houston.

STCL’s Animal Law Society was organized in 2007 by three students interested in learning about the practice of animal law. Through their efforts, the organization achieved recognized status as an official student organization the following year. Since that time, ALS has become one of the more visible student groups on campus and has been named Student Organization of the Year four times. Under the leadership of five different presidents since its creation, the group continues to thrive.

The stated mission of the ALS is to “provid[e] a forum for education, advocacy and scholarship aimed at protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system and rais[e] the profile of the field of animal law.” To that end, the ALS brings in speakers each month to address issues of importance to the animal law community and has worked on joint speaker programs with the Houston Bar Association Animal Law Section (HBA-ALS). Past speakers have included, among many others, Belinda Smith, Chief of the Animal Cruelty Section of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office; Officer Joel Caldwell, Commander of the Animal Services Unit of the Galveston Police Department; John Pippin, Director of Academic Affairs for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; Tom Linney with ALDF; and Allie Keaton with My Service Dog, Inc. In one memorable event, ALS joined with the HBA-ALS to present a viewing of Behind the Mask, a documentary about the Animal Liberation Front, followed by a forum on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act with Shannon Keith, animal advocate and director of the movie, and STCL national security law professor Geoffrey Corn. Animal law professor Fran Ortiz moderated.

ALS is particularly known for its charitable efforts and has sought to increase its gift-giving every year since its inception. The group holds two main fundraisers, a Howl-O-Ween photo contest in the fall and a silent auction in the spring. Last year, under the leadership of president Christina Fojas, ALS raised over $16,000, the bulk of which was contributed to the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide for five Spay Days with SNAP’s mobile clinic in low-income neighborhoods in Houston and Interfaith Ministry’s aniMeals on Wheels. Last semester’s fundraising efforts, led by president Johanna Miller, have already raised over $4,000, most of which was donated to My Service Dog, Inc., for training of a therapy dog for the physically challenged son of a STCL student. The balance went towards relief for residents and animals displaced by the Texas Wildfires. Past recipients of ALS donations include San Antonio’s Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc., the Houston Humane Society R.A.I.D.E.R. program, Caring Critters (a therapy dog organization), and various organizations assisting in disaster relief in Japan.

This semester’s silent auction fundraiser, led by current ALS president Jennifer Fox, was held February 27 through March 7, 2012 for the benefit of SNAP and Corridor Rescue, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping abandoned animals in Houston’s “corridor of cruelty.”

ALS also maintains funding for the Hon. Michael H. Schneider, Jr. Animal Law Society Scholarship, established by Judge Schneider in 2009. The scholarship is awarded to up to two students annually who have demonstrated an interest in animal law, animal welfare, or animal rights. Anyone interested in contributing to the scholarship may do so by contacting Kim Parker, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations at South Texas College of Law, at kparker@stcl.edu.

South Texas College of Law offers courses covering animal welfare, animal rights, and management of wildlife resources as well as student internships relating to animal law. For more information about the animal law program at STCL or about ALS, contact Professor Fran Ortiz at fortiz@stcl.edu.

Animal Law Society members man the tables at its annual Silent Auction in 2010.

ALS President Christina Fojas (left) and Vice President (later President) Johanna Miller pose with Student Bar Association President Joe Patranella after ALS was named 2010-2011 Student Organization of the Year.

by Katherine Killingsworth
SettlePou

In February of 2001, Samson- a German Shepherd mix, met Moe Nasr. Samson was just a tiny pup of five weeks old at that time- and had arrived at Moe’s office in a box. To say it was love at first sight is an understatement; Moe called his wife Louise right away and proclaimed Samson to be “the best dog in the world.” Moe and Louise adopted Samson and watched him grow to a full 95 pounds. Samson soon became a regular fixture at Moe’s office and loved playing soccer with all the guys- he could even block the ball with his chest!

At age six, the Nasrs were devastated to learn Samson had been diagnosed with cancer, but were hopeful he would overcome the disease with proper care. Sadly, in August of 2009, Samson succumbed to the cancer – possibly due to overtreatment.

After Samson’s death, Moe and Louise contacted Animal Law attorney Amy Bures Danna. They discussed several options, including taking action against the veterinarian that possibly over-treated Samson. Through this process, the Nasrs learned about many Texas animal law issues, and decided that “the only true means to helping animals is through the law.” Because of this, the Nasrs established an animal law scholarship in Samson’s honor at the University of Houston Law Center.

The Samson Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a second or third year University of Houston Law Center student that wins an essay competition on an animal law related issue. The first recipient was Kathy M. Goodwin; she received the $1,000 scholarship at a law school award ceremony on April 20, 2011.

While Louise and Moe still feel Samson’s loss every day, they find satisfaction in knowing that the Samson Memorial Scholarship provides an avenue for them to make a positive impact on animal related legal issues in Texas. Louise and Moe are grateful for the assistance that Amy Bures Danna was able to provide and hope that the scholarship recipients will follow in her footsteps by using their legal expertise to help promote saving animals.