Animals, Animal Agriculture and Animal Activism: Trends in Animal Law

Note: this FREE event is cosponsored by Attorneys for Animals and WMU Campus Beet.

Join Vegan Kalamazoo for an update on Michigan and federal laws related to animals, animal agriculture, and animal activism from Canton-based Attorneys for Animals (http://www.attorneysforanimals.org/). Learn the latest news and trends, and how they affect our nonhuman friends, and you as an animal lover, consumer, citizen, and activist.

You'll learn about the latest trends in humane legislation, laws related to companion animals and animals used for food. Bring your questions about all things animal law for the Q&A following the presentations.

Come listen, learn, and ask your questions as lawyers from Canton-based Attorneys for Animals, Inc. provide an update on Michigan and federal laws related to animals, animal agriculture, and animal activism. Learn the latest news and trends, and the most important issues that affect nonhuman animals and you as an animal advocate, consumer, citizen and activist.

A major focus will be on the difference between how the law views companion animals and “food” animals, and why we love one as family and eat the others.

Bring your questions about all things animal law for the Q&A following the presentations. Come listen, learn, and discuss!

Three AFA members will be speaking:

Kate Brindle, JD: Kate is a graduate of the Michigan State University College of Law, where she served as an Associate Editor of the Journal for Animal and Natural Resource Law and President of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. While at MSU, she also clerked for the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Litigation Department and received the Wanda A. Nash Award for advancing the field of animal law. Prior to attending law school, she worked for the Animals and Society Institute and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. She also holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. Kate is AFA’s secretary.

Rachel Walton, JD: Rachel recently passed the bar, and is a new lawyer and member of Attorneys for Animals. Rachel graduated magna cum laude from Detroit Mercy Law where she was president of the school's Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter. She recently gave a presentation for Attorneys for Animals entitled “Farmed Animals: Does the Law Protect Them?” Rachel has been vegan for the last seven years and is passionate about advocating for animal rights.

Rebecca Wrock, JD: Rebecca studied Animal Behavior at the University of Michigan (B.S. – Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science). At Wayne State University (J.D.), she served as President of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and earned the Wanda A. Nash Award. Her publications include “Ignorance is Bliss: Self-Regulation and Ag-Gag Laws in the American Meat Industry” (Contemporary Justice Review), and she has been a guest lecturer for animal law classes in the U.S. and Canada on the unconstitutionality of Ag-Gag laws. Rebecca practices primarily in the area of trusts and estates, including a focus on planning for animal companions, and is an Animal Friendly Attorney™. Rebecca is AFA’s vice president.