Key animal law in the United States

Abstract

This chapter describes how the legal system of the United States governs humans’ relationships with non-human animals. The chapter begins by contextualising US animal law in its historical, social, and political contexts, including a discussion of settler colonialism and the structure of the US legal system. It then discusses animals’ current legal status as property and describes efforts by animal advocates to change that status through legislation and litigation that seeks to establish legal personhood for animals. The chapter further introduces federal and state laws that regulate animal treatment, including laws that criminalise cruelty to animals and laws that govern the use of animals in a variety of areas. The chapter summarises laws concerning animal agriculture, the use of animals in research, the exhibition of animals for entertainment, the treatment and conservation of wild animals, and the use of animals in the pet trade.