ADVOCACY NOT APATHY
Classed as property, animals have no legal voice: they need lawyers to advocate for them. Lawyers for Animals is a volunteer-based organisation dedicated to improving the welfare of animals through education and the law.
Animal Law enforcement an ongoing battle for NFPs – Lawyers Weekly
September 11th, 2017Read about LFA’s position here: Animal law enforcement an ongoing battle for NFPs
Law Week Trivia Night 2017 – RSVP Extension!
May 12th, 2017Law Week Trivia Night 2017
April 12th, 2017We hope you’ll join us at our second annual Law Week Trivia Night, to enjoy a fun evening in good company, test your general knowledge and raise money for Edgar’s Mission and Pets Haven, a couple of hard-working animal rescue charities who desperately need it.
Animal Law Breakfast 2017 – RSVP Extension!
March 30th, 2017Animal Law Breakfast 2017
March 18th, 2017You’re warmly invited to attend our fourth Animal Law Breakfast 2017 – see flier attached – for which we are (once again) very grateful to have the generous sponsorship of Maddocks. For those not yet aware, the delicious vegan breakfasts provided by Maddocks’ catering have become legendary within LFA!
This year, with the help of two highly influential speakers in this area
- Lizzie Blandthorn MP, Ambassador for Animal Welfare (Victoria); and
- Dr. Liz Walker, Chief Executive Officer, RSPCA Victoria;
we aim to progress an answer to the question: ‘How can we best improve animal cruelty law enforcement?’
In hopes that you are able join us, here are the event details:
WHEN? Thursday 6 April: 7.15am registration – 7.30am brekkie – 8.00am speeches begin – 8.45am close
WHERE? Maddocks: Collins Square – Tower 2, Level 25, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne
COST? $22 or $16 for current LFA members and concession holders (includes $1.50 booking fee)
RSVP by 4pm Monday 27 March via: http://tix.yt/alb2017
If you have time to read on… by way of background, the theme of our Animal Law Breakfast is quite topical. It coincides with the current ‘Inquiry into RSPCA Victoria’ by a Victorian Parliamentary Standing Committee [submissions close 31 March, see: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.
Lawyers for Animals made submissions to both Inquiries advocating three key reforms:
- Creation of a dedicated Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad (or similar) within Victoria Police (modelled on New York City’s successful transition from charitable to public law enforcement).
- Creation of an Office of Animal Welfare within the Department of Justice to oversee the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad and fulfill many functions of the former Bureau of Animal Welfare, keeping it independent from the Department of Agriculture.
- Removal of RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate powers and funding, permitting it to refocus on animal care and to engage in public advocacy for animal welfare without any perceived of conflict of interest (again modelled on New York City’s successful transition, spearheaded by their American SPCA).
You may read our rationale for seeking these reforms in each of our submissions, here:
http://lawyersforanimals.org.a
http://lawyersforanimals.org.a
Unfortunately, the Independent Review’s report neither addressed our submissions nor mentioned the New York model of public animal cruelty law enforcement. We are hopeful that the Victorian Government Inquiry will give this model the consideration we feel it deserves, and that RSPCA Victoria may also come to recognise and embrace – as the American SPCA in New York did – the benefits of transitioning to a public law enforcement model, both for themselves and for the animals we all wish to protect.
We hope to see you at the Animal Law Breakfast. Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone you think may be interested. The capacity of the event is limited to 80, so please book early to maximise your chance of securing a seat.
If you have any queries, please email: enquiries@lawyersforanimals.or
VICTORIAN STATE GOVERNMENT’S INQUIRY INTO RSPCA VICTORIA
March 14th, 2017Read LFA’s submission to the Victorian State Government’s inquiry into RSPCA Victoria here. Submission are being accepted until 31 March 2017. For more information about making a submission please follow this link: Inquiry into the RSPCA Victoria – submissions.
Recent Submissions by Lawyers For Animals
August 30th, 2016Call for new animal cruelty authority in Victoria – Leader Online
July 24th, 2016Read about LFA’s position here: Call for new animal cruelty authority in Victoria