Talking Animal Law

David Blatte, author of 'The Vegan Imperative, Why We Must Give Up Meat and Why We Don't' talks about the book, compassion and his career as an animal law attorney.

We hear from lawyers and the petitioner involved in a public law challenge in 2021 against the Scottish Government's beaver killing policy. Learn about the legal issues involved and the implications of the decision for Scotland's beaver population and beyond.

We speak to David Bowles, RSPCA Head of Public Affairs, about some of the causes supported by the late Sir David Amess who was MP for Southend West and a consistent champion of animal welfare throughout his long career. Sir David Amess MP was tragically killed earlier this year, although his legacy lives on.

Join us in remembering a great advocate in Parliament against animal suffering who worked for decades alongside the RSPCA and other animal advocacy groups to enshrine animal welfare standards in law.

An independent review of sentience commissioned by the UK Government and conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has concluded there is 'strong scientific evidence decapod crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, prawns, & crayfish) and cephalopod molluscs ( such as such as octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) are sentient.' We discuss the report and it's findings with Claire Howard, Director of Crustacean Compassion, an award-winning animal welfare organisation dedicated to the humane treatment of decapod crustaceans.

Rob Espin, solicitor and co-chair of A-Law's Wildlife Law Working Group, discusses problems around the use of rodent glue traps and outlines proposed new laws designed to restrict their use.

We discuss the puppy trade and dog theft in Ireland with Dr. Stephanie O' Flynn, a Lecturer in Law in the Department of Law and Criminal Justice at Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. Stephanie has a particular interest in the legal treatment of dogs, and in this episode she talks about some of the challenges posed by low welfare breeding, dog theft and the pandemic.

With a consultation into the Commercial and Non-Commercial Movement of Pets into Great Britain due to close on 16 Oct 2021, we ask three campaigners (Marc Abraham, Sarah Dixon and Jordan Shelley) at the forefront of the fight against 'puppy farms' and ear cropping, respectively, for their views on import restrictions for dogs with cropped ears or docked tails or under 6 months of age. We ask specifically, should the government exempt animal rescue and re-homing organisations from these restrictions?

In this episode, we discuss the case for a specific crime of pet abduction. Should the criminal justice system treat the theft of companion animals in the same way as the theft of inanimate property or does the law need reform? We talk to John Cooper QC, who has been advising the pet theft campaign.

Warning: some listeners may find content distressing

Dr Joe Wills from Leicester Law School, discusses the decision in Centraal Israëlitisch Consistorie van België and Others. In this case, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Member States could require pre-stunning of animals before slaughter, without infringing fundamental human rights. There has to be a balance between promoting animal welfare and respecting the rights of those in religious communities to practice their beliefs.

Warning: adult themes, not suitable for children

'Where animals are abused, people are at risk and where people are abused, animals are at risk.' That is the central message of this episode, in which we consider what can be learnt about domestic abuse and coercive control when we take the time to consider the animal within the home. What does this tell us and how can we protect vulnerable family members?