Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, UW Chapter is dedicated to providing a forum for education, advocacy, and scholarship aimed at protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system, and raising the profile of the field of animal law.

News & Events

  • Social Justice Tuesday: The Companion Animal Protection Act and Efforts to Create a No Kill Community in King County:
    February 3, 2009, 12:30 p.m., Gates Hall room 133
    • Claire Davis, an associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, will speak about the Companion Animal Protection Act as well as efforts currently taking place in King County to reform the animal shelter by creating a No Kill Community.
    • More information here.
  • Annual Pet Photo Contest to Benefit Rabbit Meadows Sanctuary
    Submissions: February 3, 2009 through February 10, 2009
    • Voting: through mid-February
    • Who Can Participate? All UW law students, faculty and staff can participate by submitting photos and voting!
    • Where to Submit? Email submissions to saldfphotocontest@gmail.com or leave a 4” x 6” print with your name at the SALDF office (room 214)
    • More information here.
  • Conference: Animal Law: Animal Cruelty: Why Shields and Not Swords?
    February 27, 2009, Gates Hall
    • The University of Washington School of Law’s second annual animal law conference is focused on the legal landscape of animal cruelty. The aim of the conference is to educate attorneys, law students, and animal advocates about the pervasiveness of animal cruelty in the United States. The conference will highlight the scarcity of laws protecting animals, especially in agribusiness and animal experimentation laboratories; obstacles to educating the public about this cruelty and to bringing animal abusers to justice; and alternative strategies for preventing cruelty to animals. This interdisciplinary conference will bring together preeminent animal lawyers, scientific experts, whistleblowers, and law enforcement agents to discuss the magnitude of the problem, recent developments in the field, and proposals for future advancement.
    • Program Highlights:
    • Prosecuting an animal cruelty case—investigation, obstacles, and expert witnesses
    • Uncovering animal cruelty—undercover investigations and public records litigation
    • The exemptions to animal welfare laws for animals in industry
    • 5.5 General CLE credits available
    • More details on the conference and registration information