Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
SALDF is a student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. SALDF is devoted to enhancing the welfare and legal status of all nonhuman animals. Our primary goals are to educate ourselves and others concerning the issues and laws that affect animals and to influence positive change. Please visit our blog at saldf.umlaw.net.
The UM Law chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) recently conducted a pro bono legal research project for Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, a Washington, D.C. public interest firm that is representing the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in the case of ASPCA v. Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. For the project, UMSALDF executive board members, Jane Graham, Jonathan Tanoos, Angelica Fiorentino, Laura Tsai, Nick Lewis, and Megan Hamilton, wrote a detailed memo regarding the admissibility of evidence of cruelty to elephants performing and transported in the circus. UM Law Professor George Mundstock advised the group.
UM Law's SALDF hosted a seminar featuring Dr. Sean Gelb, chair of the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee and Miami Animal Law Attorney. Dr. Gelb discussed the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee and ways in which students can get involved, as well as current animal law issues in Miami-Dade County including developments in dog bite case law and the "Tinkerbell Rule," which addresses whether pets may accompany their owners to restaurants.
On September 19, UM Law's SALDF and student groups from Florida International University and St. Thomas University hosted an event where they collected donations for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.
SALDF executive Board members Jane Graham, Laura Tsai, and Angelica Fiorentino attended the National Animal Law Conference at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon . Topics covered at the event included animals in entertainment, the moral rights of animals, and sharkfinning. For more information of the conference, go to www.lclark.edu/org/saldf/conference.html.
For more information, contact Karen Chrisman at or Gabriela Jiminez at umiamisaldf@gmail.com.
Faculty Advisor
S.A.L.D.F. 2011 - 2012 Officers
President: Karen Chrisman
Vice President: Gabriela Jiminez
Treasurer: Ashley Matthews
E-mail: umiamisaldf@gmail.com
PHOTOS
February 14, 2012: The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund paired up with a local animal rescue group, Paws4You, to increase awareness about pet adoption and volunteering, in addition to raising much needed funds for the group. Several puppies have found happy homes a result of this partnership and the group continues to encourage community service with local animal rescue groups and shelters.
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