Posted October 9, 2013
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 credit 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. The written materials for the
CLE will discuss states' applicable laws, which is a very valuable
resource.
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.
To learn more about the American Agricultural
Law Association, including its upcoming 34th Annual Conference (Oct. 31 - Nov.
2) in Madison, Wisconsin, click here.
For more information on Animal Welfare, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center's website here.
