Highlights & Reflections

Building Animal Friendly Communities through Legislation, Community Action & Legal Advocacy focused on the practical tools needed to create meaningful protections for animals at the local, national, and international levels. The conference emphasized collaboration across legal, professional, and community sectors, reflecting the early evolution of animal law as both a legal discipline and a grassroots movement.

Conference sessions addressed a wide range of issues affecting companion animals, wildlife, and animals used in research and entertainment. Panels explored housing and access issues for companion animals, the legal recognition of service animals, pet trusts, and emerging tort theories designed to protect the fundamental interests of nonhuman animals. Other sessions examined consumer protection and false advertising, animal use in zoos and circuses, recovering wolf populations in the western United States, and the legal and ethical implications of animal research.

A strong emphasis was placed on coalition-building as a driver of change. Attendees engaged in discussions on partnering with domestic violence advocates, veterinarians, educators, and students, as well as leveraging humane education and community outreach to advance animal protection goals. The conference also highlighted the role of legislation and common law advocacy in strengthening animal protections and defending activists working on behalf of animals.

International perspectives were woven throughout the program, with sessions examining animal law developments in Australia and Southeast Asia, as well as the global bushmeat crisis in Africa. Additional panels focused on advocacy strategy, persuasion techniques, and lessons drawn from broader social justice movements.

The conference concluded with a keynote address by Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas of Animal Precinct and the presentation of the Nancy Perry Golden Cougar Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animal Advocacy in Oregon. Building Animal Friendly Communities underscored the importance of integrated legal strategies, community engagement, and cross-movement collaboration in advancing lasting protections for animals.