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Animal Law

Animal law is defined as the set of legal rules that govern human interactions with nonhuman animals. This guide covers laws and regulations, websites, and a selective bibliography of animal law holdings in the Chastek Library.

Federal Statutes and Regulations

  • Title 7 of the United States Code (Agriculture)

  • Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Agriculture)

  • Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Animals and Animal Products)

  • Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Wildlife and Fisheries)

  • Animal Welfare Act of 1966, Pub. L. No. 89-544, 80 Stat. 359. (Codified at 7 U.S.C. §§ 2131-2159)

    • amended in 1970, 1976, 1985, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2008

  • Endangered Species Act of 1973, Pub. L. No. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884. (Codified at 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1544)

  • Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978, Pub. L. No.  95-445, 92 Stat. 1069. (Codified at 7 U.S.C . § 601)

  • Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, Pub. L. No. 92-522, 86 Stat. 1027. (Codified at 16 U.S.C. §§ 1361-1423h)

Significant Federal Cases

Sierra Club v. Morton, 405 U.S. 727 (1972)

Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555 (1992)

Humane Society of the United States v. Hodel, 840 F.2d 45 (D.C. Cir. 1988)

Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Glickman, 943 F.Supp. 54 (D. D.C. 1996)

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