The National Agricultural Law Center and the American Agricultural Law Association are co-sponsoring a webinar titled, “Enforcing Animal Welfare Statutes: Whose Job Is It, Anyway?” The program will be held Oct. 10, 2013 from 12-1 p.m. (CDT). The program has been approved for 60 minutes continuing legal education in Arkansas, and Center staff will gladly work with attorneys in other states to have the CLE approved in other states. The cost for CLE is $95. For more information about the program or to register, click here.
Authority
to enforce animal welfare laws has been delegated to private citizens involved
with humane organizations since the 1880s, when the majority of those statutes
were originally passed. Currently, over half of the states and the District of
Columbia grant some form of law enforcement power to members or officers of
humane societies. The authority ranges from the power to arrest to the ability
to seize and destroy private property. In some cases, it includes the right to
carry a firearm– even, in one state, as a convicted felon– while engaging in
law enforcement activities.
After
a brief history of the statutory scheme, this presentation will discuss the
states that delegate authority to private citizens involved in humane
societies, the specific authority that is given to these individuals and an
overview of liability concerns that may present themselves as a result of the
delegation.
