The NhRP has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit on behalf of approximately 2,000 beagles and puppies subjected to routine cruelty and mistreatment at Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin, seeking recognition of their right to be free from cruelty.
Posts by Christopher Berry
Animal rights group sues #Ridglan Farms, seeking legal rights for beagles.
#USA #AnimalRights #EndAnimalTesting #justice
www.fox6now.com/news/animal-...
Was a pleasure chatting with @marisul.bsky.social on @ourhenhouse.org Animal Law Podcast. Highlight for me was learning that someone has taken up intrinsic valuation as their pet animal law cause because I’ve never read a good explanation why this doesn’t fill the companion animal valuation gap.
Thanks for having me! Excellent editorial judgment on the quotes you pulled for the promos.
Thank you Kristen Stilt @harvardanimallaw.bsky.social, @animal-justice.bsky.social, @climatedefense.bsky.social, animal law scholars,
@nonhumanrights.bsky.social, @ccrjustice.org @aclu-norcal.bsky.social, @nlgnews.bsky.social docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Read more about the Nonhuman Rights Project’s involvement at www.nonhumanrights.org/blog/califor...
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But, as we argue, ensuring the common law’s just and rational development is a core responsibility of thecourts. In the words of the California Supreme Court: “Courts [must] remain alert to their obligation and opportunity to change the common law when reason and equity demand it.”
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Also at stake in this appeal is the critically important question: who decides whether animals matter? The prosecution is arguing that only the legislature can expand the necessity defense to prevent animal cruelty.
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The legal principle at stake transcends any single case. It goes to the heart of how our legal system views animals. Are they “things” or are they beings who matter?
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On its surface, this case involving chickens, ducks, & criminal trespass may seem far from the @nonhumanrights.bsky.social’s ordinary work. But when a court categorically excludes animals from a legal doctrine that protects against significant evil, it sets a dangerous precedent for all animals. 1/
SCOTUS says equity ‘moulds each decree to necessities of the case’ then limits equitable relief to whatever a pre-1789 case happened to use? Should’ve been abuse of discretion review w/ weights on the scale for ahistorical nature. Not a hard crop. #UniversalInjunctions #legalnews
(For anybody looking for the opinion you can find it here: Deblase v. Hill, 2025 WL 1696814, Supreme Court of New York for Kings County, Index No. 522689/2023 (June 17, 2025))
Today’s recognition by the NY Supreme Court for Kings County that Duke was a family member shows the justice system at its best: fulfilling its fundamental duty to deliver justice based on facts and reason rather than an antiquated legal fiction that animals are mere things.
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Companion animal familial status shares a deep conceptual synergy with the NhRP's habeas corpus cases because both depend on the same legal principles: "the evolving legal status of nonhuman animals, the role and duty of common law courts, and the fundamental demands of justice[.]"
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The Court thus found that Duke was a member of the family under the circumstances: "This Court believes that 'a pet such as a dog is not just a thing' and [Plaintiff] 'is entitled to damages beyond the market value' of Duke[.]" (citations omitted)
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The Court agreed on framework: "Ultimately, if a trial court perceives a change in law, it is morally obligated to recognize it" and must "interpre[t] and appl[y] law to align with evolving societal norms while remaining faithful to the original intent."
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www.nonhumanrights.org/wp-content/u...
The Nonhuman Rights Project authored two amicus briefs arguing that courts are not just able to evolve common law to do justice, but have a responsibility to do so.
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www.nonhumanrights.org/wp-content/u...
The facts alleged: Plaintiff was walking the family dog, Duke, when driver ran a stop sign hitting and killing Duke in front of plaintiff who narrowly escaped danger herself. Plaintiff sought emotional damages. Driver argued dogs are just property. Court sought amicus briefing to resolve.
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NY court recognizes dog as "immediate family member" in case where @nonhumanrights.bsky.social filed amicus briefs. First time in NY that witnessing a pet's death can support emotional distress damages. ⚖️🐾
#animallaw #legalnews #legal #animalrights #dogs
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www.nonhumanrights.org/blog/dog-fam...
NhRP Executive Director @chrandberry.bsky.social was interviewed for @reason.com on the topic of #AnimalPersonhood: “courts are trying to police a boundary between humans and animals and not recognizing that things don't always fall into a neat dichotomy." Read in full➡️📰 reason.com/2025/05/24/w...
Can’t believe we missed the April Fools press release that penguins have a right to be free from tariffs by one day.
Thank you for the suggestions! Added @animallawyersuk.bsky.social, @evabernetkempers.bsky.social, @charlotteblattner.bsky.social, @joyfulgrowth.bsky.social, @dorfonlaw.bsky.social, @drjoshdoeslaw.bsky.social, @valerygiroux.bsky.social
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Adding animal law superstars @njacewicz.bsky.social, @raffaelfasel.bsky.social, and @animalrightslaw.bsky.social
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Well said.
A Wisconsin judge has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate & potentially prosecute criminal #animalcruelty at Ridglan Farms, one of the last 2 remaining large US breeders of dogs for animal experimentation. One more nail in the coffin of dog experimentation! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Prosecutors often treat commercial animal operations as above the law, even in the face of egregiously unlawful cruelty. It's a huge victory to have convinced a court that this dog experiment breeder should be investigated by a special prosecutor!
CO’s highest court heard arguments made by NhRP for right the liberty of 5 elephants held captive in the Cheyenne Mt Zoo.The key issue before the 6 justices is whether CO common law protects an individual’s rt to liberty even if they aren’t human nonhumanrightsproject.donorsupport.co/page/endofye...
Does everyone in your community agree on some folk knowledge that isn’t published anywhere? Put it in a paper! It’s a pretty valuable contribution
Someone must be coughing up mad amounts of money to the ox tail and beef tallow influencer army
Who’s the artist 😭