A Proposal: Protecting Military Working Dogs from Lasting Effects of War-Induced Trauma and Internalized Stress

This article proposes that certain deleterious physical conditions Military Working Dogsdevelop while serving militaries are a result of the relationship between the stressful nature of theirwork, and their bodies’ response to that stress, through their experienced trauma, internalized stress(high cortisol levels), and anxiety. Subsequently, this article proposes methods to ameliorate thosedeleterious physical conditions by improving Military Working Dogs’ welfare during their militaryservice

Climate Change and Wild Animals: Key Ethical Perspectives

Climate change is already having significant impacts on wild animal species and individuals.While not all these impacts are negative, many individual animals will suffer declines in their welfareand some will die, and many species will move towards extinction, as the climate changes. From anumber of ethical perspectives, these negative impacts of climate change matter. This paper will outlinethree such perspectives: those that emphasize the value of species, those that are primarily concernedwith individual animals’ welfare, and those that focus on climate injustice. Each of these perspectivesappears to require an ethically-informed policy response to negative climate impacts on wild animals.However, I’ll suggest, such different ethical perspectives don’t always agree on what the best practicalresponse actually is. This may make it more difficult to construct ethical policy and legal frameworks torespond to climate change in the context of wild animals

Domestic Rabbit Abandonment in Canada

This paper describes the extent of the problem of domestic rabbit abandonment in Canada, examines the source and resolution of the problem from a socio-legal perspective, and makes recommendations as to how this problem might be effectively addressed. It argues that the problem is perpetuated by the combination of inadequate legislation and public misconceptions about the needs of domestic rabbits as pets. Through an examination of the wide range of Canadian laws relevant to the problem, this paper demonstrates that these laws do not adequately address the issue of rabbit abandonment because they treat animals as property rather than as sentient beings and are often inconsistent, unclear and difficult to enforce. Further, by examining popular societal perceptions and misconceptions about domestic rabbits, this paper explains how pet rabbit abandonment is perpetuated by societal norms which fail to identify it as an animal cruelty issue. Combined with the inadequacies of legislative protections for domestic rabbits, Canadian popular culture views domestic rabbits alternately as rodents or as temporary pets who are able to fend for themselves when released into the wild. The paper concludes with recommendations for decreasing the rate of domestic rabbit abandonment, or eliminating it altogether. These suggestions reflect the idea that clear, consistent and enforceable legal prohibitions, coupled with efforts to educate the public about domestic rabbits, are the most effective way of deterring people from abandoning their rabbits

Why Study Animals in Disasters?

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The Legal protection of Foxes in France and England and Wales

The fox (vulpes vulpes) is a one wild mammal species which has historically been persecuted by humans throughout western Europe. The fox remains subject to such persecution even today due to a mixture of supposedly “cultural” traditions and its designation as an undesirable pest. Using the wildlife legal regimes in England and France as a lens, this article analyses how these two different national legal frameworks either restrict or permit acts of cruelty towards the fox. Beginning with the French legal regime, this article discusses how the different parts of the French legal codes permit the fox to be killed for different reasons before analysing whether such grounds are underpinned by proper justifications and if associated conditions are properly checked and enforced. The article then evaluates how well in reality the different wildlife welfare laws in the England protect the fox from the persecution permitted by the French legal regime. Such evaluation concludes by criticising the enforcement problems created by the patchwork nature of the English regime and the exceptions to welfare protections before suggesting reforms required to close such issues exposing the fox to unjustified exploitation

The Theological and Ethical Grounds against Keeping Elephants Captive

As set forth below, animal theology experts Dr. Andrew Linzey and Dr. Clair Linzey of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics believe that Petitioner Nonhuman Rights Project, Inc. (“NhRP”) has made a prima facie case that the elephants confined at Fresno Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, CA—Nolwazi, Amahle, and Mabu—are entitled to habeas corpus relief. Accordingly, we respectfully urge the Supreme Court of California to issue an order to show cause in this matter

Global scoping of wildlife crime offences, penalties, and statistics

At a time of escalating biodiversity and climate crises, there is an urgent need to effectively respond to harms and crimes toward wildlife and the environment. This study gathers information for a global scoping analysis of wildlife offences and penalties, and of the availability of crime statistics. This is a starting point for assessing the effectiveness of mainstream criminal justice responses (fines and prison) to wildlife crime and a baseline for comparing restorative justice as an alternative approach.  We examine 1,256 pieces of legislation from 185 countries to assess the scope of wildlife-related offences and their corresponding penalties. The analysis shows that penalties are highly varied around the globe, although fines and imprisonment are the predominant response. What counts as a wildlife offence is highly variable across wildlife, forestry, fisheries, and environmental legislation. This also makes for differences in the way government departments identify and prosecute wildlife offences. To display the complexity of the data we introduce a publicly available dashboard and database detailing offence types and penalties, including restorative and non-custodial actions. We then make a rapid assessment of the availability of official sources of wildlife crime statistics, highlighting how very few countries make this information publicly available. This limits our ability to assess whether wildlife offences are being sanctioned as the law requires and whether enforcement reduces re-offending. To make wildlife crime prevention and disruption strategies more effective, better data on wildlife law enforcement and its long-term impacts are urgently needed

Animals as Assets in Debt Collection Procedures

The paper outlines the legal rules pertaining to the treatment of animals as assets for debt collection in Germany and America. A comparative analysis reveals striking similarities and fundamental differences at the same time, which are explained against the background of both legal systems’ wider context. Finally, the paper turns to the lessons to be learned for the further development of animal law. Especially sections 811(3) and 765a(1) of the German Code of Civil Procedure are identified as commendable examples of laws that protect animals without neglecting the legitimate interests of humans

Ensuring Livestock Welfare at Slaughter in the US: Still A Long Way To Go

US legislation aimed at protecting livestock welfare at pre-slaughter handling and during slaughter falls far short of being an effective, comprehensive, and modern law. While its implementation several decades ago has resulted in modest improvements and some of the most egregious practices have been outlawed, the legislation's impact remains limited. In addition to its limited scope and scant enforcement, the legislation has not kept up with scientific developments. Further, the legislation raises ethical concerns by failing to appropriately consider the interests of animals in situations in which slaughter without stunning remains allowed. The legislation remains deeply deficient on a number of fronts; much more is needed to ensure livestock welfare at slaughter.   &nbsp

Procedure Severity Assessments in Animal Research: Ethical and Practical Considerations

Procedure severity assessments are required for certain types of animal research. While the concept exists in many jurisdictions, each takes a different approach, resulting in the same procedure potentially being categorized differently, and being subject to different requirements (or none at all). The severity assessment frameworks in the EU, Israel, Canada, and Switzerland are considered and applied to a hypothetical blood withdrawal from a Giant Pacific Octopus. The note considers whether we can ever be sure that we understand the experience of pain of another species, in particular a species that is evolutionarily distant from and poorly understood by humans, and whether our ethical obligations could ever be met in the context of severity assessments