Animal Legal Defense Fund

We're hiring a Head of Philanthropy to lead and expand our major and principal gifts program. If you thrive on leading fundraising teams, shaping major gifts strategy, and partnering with donors who care deeply about animals, we'd love to hear from you. Applications may close early, so don't wait to apply! https://lnkd.in/gFMpcemB

Last week, animal activists reportedly removed over 20 dogs from Ridglan Farms, a commercial breeder in Wisconsin that supplies beagles to laboratories and conducts research on them. The activists entered the property without permission -- around 20 were arrested. In a new op-ed, Stacy M. Lopresti-Goodman, who recently joined ALDF as the Director of our Animal Law Education and Scholarship program, examines how weak enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act has allowed years of documented neglect and cruelty at Ridglan Farms and similar facilities. Despite hundreds of alleged violations and ongoing evidence of harm, federal oversight has fallen short leaving thousands of dogs without meaningful protection. At the Animal Legal Defense Fund, we’re working to change that through the courts, legislation and policy reform, and by holding systems accountable when they fail animals. Read the full piece: https://lnkd.in/ge62FKuj

In September 2025, the Constitutional Court of Colombia not only upheld a nationwide ban on bullfighting but also struck down exemptions for cockfighting and related events where cattle are injured and killed for sport. With this decision, Colombia joins the growing list of countries that have prohibited bullfighting on animal cruelty grounds, rejecting long-standing arguments about the sacrosanctity of cultural tradition. ➡️ Read our full legal analysis: https://lnkd.in/g8pW2Pyz

Registration is open for the Animal Law Symposium! Join us May 7–8 for a free, two-day virtual event featuring leading litigators, scholars, and advocates discussing transparency, regulatory practice, and emerging strategies in animal protection. Open to practitioners, students, and advocates. Register here: https://bit.ly/ALS2026

The countdown begins! Only ten days left to submit your idea to be a speaker for the 2026 or 2027 conference. Do you have a question about the Call for Proposals? Ask us below!  Submit your idea here: https://lnkd.in/ga2EC5hC

Have an awesome idea for an Animal Law Conference panel you’d like to share? Now is your chance - the Call for Proposals are closing soon! We’re accepting submissions for the 34th Annual Animal Law Conference, taking place October 16–18, 2026, in Washington, DC, as well as the 35th Anniversary Animal Law Conference, scheduled for March 12–14, 2027, in Portland, OR. If you have insights or expertise that can help advance animal law, we encourage you to submit a proposal. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and are due by March 15, 2026. Submit here: https://lnkd.in/ga2EC5hC

Join the Animal Legal Defense Fund to celebrate a victory for plant-based foods, free speech, and consumers! In this webinar, ALDF attorneys Amanda Howell, Michael Swistara, and Morgan Boutilier will discuss a recent “tag-gag” victory that stopped Texas from silencing plant-based food labels. Learn why this landmark ruling is important for consumers and plant-based food manufacturers nationwide, and why the courts rejected the myth of “consumer confusion.” Register Now!  https://lnkd.in/grxcFQGe

Victory! We've successfully challenged a Texas law that attempted to censor plant-based meat labels using vague, misleading standards. A federal court has ruled that Texas’s food label censorship law — which targeted plant-based meat producers — is unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment. The law couldn’t be enforced because it would have prevented plant-based companies from accurately communicating what’s in their products, even though they already meet federal requirements. This is a big win for plant-based meat producers and Texas consumers! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gktyY6Gb

The 2025 U.S. Animal Protection Laws Rankings are out! Every year, we release a comprehensive report ranking the animal protection laws of all 50 states and 6 territories. This year, Oregon took the top spot for the third time while North Dakota remains last for the second year in a row. Our Rankings Report highlights the ways each of these jurisdictions can strengthen their laws to ensure that all animals receive the protections they need and deserve. Are you surprised where your state ranked? aldf.org/staterankings

Speaker proposals for the 2026 and 2027 Animal Law Conferences are being accepted now through March 15, 2026! We invite submission of proposals for speakers to discuss topics that will appeal to law students, legal professionals, legal scholars, and general animal advocates. Send in your proposal here: https://lnkd.in/ga2EC5hC