This panel will discuss the ways in which industrial animal agriculture has doubled down on its harmful business practices with full support from government regulators. Instead of facing much-needed regulation and reform, the industry is profiting from its harmful business practices via greenwashing, subsidies, and legislation aimed at protecting industry. Hear the latest on litigation, legislation and a groundbreaking documentary that exposes the environmental racism inherent in animal agribusiness.

Each tribal nation’s relationship with the United States federal government and state governments is unique and layered with complex forms of oppression and injustice. These relationships become more complicated with advocacy for companion animals, domestic animals, and wildlife who live on federally recognized reservations, when many tribal nations are still fighting for basic human rights, civil rights, and federal recognition. The panelists will discuss their approaches to collaborating with tribal nations to help them enforce their treaty rights; improve the lives of tribal members and the lives of animals who live on reservations, through a One Health perspective; and develop tribal nation-specific laws and programs that protect all beings who live within their jurisdictions.

Join us as we discuss issues surrounding how the law deals with humans intervening in the face of animal maltreatment – whether from private or public actors. In addition to a discussion of the concepts implicated by these issues, this panel will spotlight a 2022 Utah piglet open rescue case, and a California case where law enforcement intervened to harm Cedar — a beloved goat – despite the wishes of the human who raised him and the human who purchased him.

Over the past few years, there has been a concerted effort in many countries to change the legal status of animals through litigation. However, cases attempting to obtain personhood status for animals have had varying levels of success. While courts in some jurisdictions have gone so far as to grant personhood to the entire animal kingdom, others have been slower to sanction animal personhood. This panel will examine some of these global developments, discuss what recent animal personhood cases do or do not accomplish for animals, and consider why personhood litigation has resulted in such diverse outcomes across the world.

As animals have historically seen their interests marginalized by the legal system, advocates have long had to map new and novel pathways to secure their protection. This, the trailblazing spirit of animal advocates, is as true today as it was at the movement’s founding. This panel of academics, advocates, and attorneys will survey the current landscape and point to some emerging frontiers in animal advocacy today that can lead to brighter horizons for animals tomorrow.