Increase in Animal Lawyer
Programs Continues Says Igor Purlantov
Animal law is essentially a combination of statutory and case law in
which the key factor being considered is the nature of animals according to
animal rights advocate Igor Purlantov. The intent of animal law is to protect
the belief that animals have a life of their own and as such should not be
subjected to conditions that are inhumane. According to Igor Purlantov, animal law
touches on some common areas of law such as tort, contract, criminal and
constitutional law. It is common to have cases involving animals where the
following issues may arise; veterinary malpractice resulting in health problems
or even death; domestic violence and cruelty; and custody of animals during
divorce or separation.
Animal law covers domestic companion animals, domestic animals raised for
food or entertainment, and wildlife animals says Igor Purlantov. The demand for
animal lawyer legal services where animal rights have been violated is
increasing all over the United States, Canada and Europe. The caregivers of
pets are demanding that the law treats their animals the same way humans are
treated says Igor Purlantov. There has a been a rapid increase in schools
offering animal rights courses, pointing to a trend whereby people are becoming
more aware of animals rights and are pressing charges whenever they feel the
rights of animals in their custody have been violated. This can be attributed
to animal rights activists who have held sustained campaigns to promote animal
rights and advocate for adoption of laws that protect animals says Igor
Purlantov.
By the turn of the millennium there were only nine law schools in the
United States with animal lawyer programs but today there are over 100 law
schools in United States alone according to Igor Purlantov. This has been
driven by a rapid increase in the demand for legal services in cases where
animal rights are involved. Some of the institutions offering animal lawyer
programs in the United States include Lewis and Clark Law School, the University
of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania. The increase in animal lawyer
programs has allowed pet caregivers to form trusts for their animals where upon
occurrence of the caregiver’s death, a designated trustee has the mandate to
take care of the pet says Igor Purlantov.
This is a positive move towards treating animals as members of the
family rather than just chattels with no feelings as was the case a few decades
ago.
According to Igor Purlantov, the journey to create animal lawyer programs
to help protect the rights and well being of animals has been a long struggling
effort not unlike that of the civil rights movement. It is only recently that real gains are
beginning to be realized due to concerted efforts by key players in animal
lawyer programs that are fighting to ensure that there are laws in place to
protect animals. The result has been the growth in animal lawyer programs in
law schools says Igor Purlantov. Law
schools are now taking advantage of this increased opportunity by offering
animal lawyer programs that will produce competent and knowledgeable lawyers in
the field of animal rights. The
expansion of animal lawyer programs to meet the growing demand for legal
services involving animals is a wise decision since it will benefit animals in
the long run. Ultimately, all of these
animal lawyer programs will help ensure that animals can enjoy the right to be
treated with dignity and respect says Igor Purlantov.
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