Talking Animal Law
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago -The UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) brings you this regular podcast with a new episode each month. We will be Talking Animal Law with campaigners, lawyers, scientists and animal welfare experts. We will also be discussing topical issues, campaigns for law reform and ethical theories about the treatment of animals with leading experts in the fields of law, ethics and science.
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Episodes
Talking Animal Law in Scotland with Kirsty Jenkins, OneKind.
May 11, 2024 17:39 - 35 minutes - 49 MBWhat is on the agenda for animal law and policy in Scotland? Guest host, Alison Burns talks to Kirsty Jenkins, Policy Officer at OneKind about their campaign to 'Stand up for pigs' centred around the use of farrowing crates, the National Good Food Nation Plan for Scotland and it's potential to drive up animal welfare standards and much more.
Championing Cats - Talking with the Cats Protection team
March 28, 2024 13:10 - 52 minutes - 71.7 MBIn this episode, we speak to Stefan Blakiston Moore and Madison Rogers from the national charity, Cats Protection about their work advocating for cats in law and policy, alongside their education and welfare programmes. Drawing upon the 'Cats and Their Stats 2023' report, published by the charity, we learn about the current welfare landscape for cats and the needs and challenges faced by their keepers. We cover the rise of selective breeding and unethical importation of cats into the UK, the...
An interview with Claire Bass: the animal welfare wish list for 2024
February 09, 2024 13:27 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MBIn this episode we speak to Claire Bass, Senior Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs at Humane Society International-UK, who has been working in the animal protection movement for two decades, with recent significant involvement in the successful passage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act. Claire outlines her New Year's wishlist for animals in 2024, from ending the cage age for farmed animals to wildlife crime and more.
Childhood exposure to violence towards animals
November 29, 2023 10:52 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBIn this episode we welcome guests, Dr Roshni Ladny and Erin Leach to explore research about the potential impact upon children of witnessing violence towards animals. We discuss this research with our guests in the context of General Comment 26 published by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child's (CRC), which implicitly recognises (as part of a broader statement about the impact upon children of the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity and exposure to pollution) the negativ...
Law and veganism
September 27, 2023 14:17 - 1 hour - 91.5 MBThis extended episode is co-hosted with Tamara Bedic, President of the National Lawyers Guild NYC (2022) and Chair of the NLGNYC Animal Rights Committee, and features three prominent guests talking about veganism and how it engages fundamental human rights across the UK, Germany and Italy. We hear from Dr. Jeanette Rowley and Dr. Carlo Prisco, co-editors of Law and Vegansism: International Perspectives on the Human Right to Freedom of Conscience (2022) and Ralf Muller-Amenitsch. Dr. Jea...
Silent Fish - capture and slaughter in commercial fisheries
July 26, 2023 07:23 - 50 minutes - 69.7 MBIn this episode we discuss the capture and slaughter of fish in commercial fisheries with John Garratt, co-author of a paper with Dr Steven McCulloch 'Wild Fish Welfare in UK Commercial Sea Fisheries: Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Views'. This is a deep dive into fish welfare during the capture and killing processes, exploring opportunities for law reform and how measures to protect fish welfare can support other objectives.
Forgotten fish - legal protection at the time of killing farmed fish.
June 27, 2023 23:00 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MBIn this episode, we discuss the legal protection of farmed fish with Amro Hussain, Senior Public Affairs Lead at The Humane League. In particular, we focus on the protection of welfare at the time of killing and ask why current legal protections are not sufficient.
Talking Christian Orthodoxy, animals and law
May 31, 2023 05:00 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBDr Christina Nellist, B.Ed; Ph.D; FOCAE. Eastern Orthodox Theologian, Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and Editor of Pan Orthodox Concern for Animals, talks about animals and theology. This episode explores how Christian theology has influenced the development of law in the Western hemisphere and how it can help us navigate some of the current dilemas about society's treatment of animals.
Talking Animal Law and trophy hunting
March 08, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 81.6 MBThis episode is co-hosted with Tamara Bedic, Chair of the Animal Rights Committee of the New York Guild of Lawyers (New York City division). We are talking about trophy hunting with our guests, Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting in the UK and Professor David Bilchitz, Professor of Fundamental Rights and Constitutional Law at the University of Johannesburg and Professor of Law at the University of Reading.
Talking Animal Law and farrowing crates
February 22, 2023 09:40 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MBIn this episode, we talk to Dr Steven McCulloch, veterinary surgeon and expert in animal welfare about the use of farrowing crates. Dr McCulloch is the author of a recent report called Banning Farrowing Crates in the UK: Transitioning to Free Farrowing to Meet the Welfare Needs of Pigs. We discuss the use of farrowing crates and the call for a ban on animal welfare grounds.
Animals and society in the nineteenth century Britain
July 22, 2022 08:19 - 45 minutes - 61.8 MBHistorian Dr Hilda Kean, former Dean of Ruskin College, Oxford, takes us back to nineteenth century Britain, as she discusses the landscape for animals around the enactment of Martin's Act 1822 (named after its sponsor, Richard Martin MP), the first national legislation intended specifically to make animal cruelty an offence. This episode contains references to animal cruelty, including cat skinning, that some people may find distressing.
How the law can help save Asian elephants
June 29, 2022 03:00 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBIn this week’s episode we talk to Duncan McNair, CEO of Save the Asian Elephants (‘STAE’) about elephants, and the impact that unethical elephant tourist attractions have on the welfare of the individual elephant and on the elephant population. Duncan discusses proposals for law reform that would see a ban on the marketing of certain tourist attractions in Asia involving elephants.
The elephant in the court
May 31, 2022 18:28 - 32 minutes - 45.2 MBDr Joe Wills talks about a case brought by the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) on behalf of an elephant named Happy. The NhRP is seeking a writ of habeas corpus to secure Happy's freedom, so that she can be transferred to an elephant sanctuary. The case has recently been heard by New York's highest court and raises fundamental issues about legal personhood.
Dogs: reducing attacks and promoting responsible ownership
May 25, 2022 15:08 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBDr Angus Nurse is the author of a Government commissioned report: 'Investigation of measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible ownership amongst dog owners with dog control issues in the UK.' 2021. Dr Nurse discusses the report and its implications for dog control policy, law and enforcement.
Cosmetics testing on animals
May 11, 2022 09:43 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBDavid Thomas, lawyer at Advocates for Animals and Kerry Postlewhite of Cruelty Free International, discuss the use of animals for cosmetics testing. We learn about the legal landscape and current challenges.
The Vegan Imperative
April 27, 2022 03:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBDavid Blatte, author of 'The Vegan Imperative, Why We Must Give Up Meat and Why We Don't' talks about the book, compassion and his career as an animal law attorney.
LEGAL VICTORY FOR SCOTTISH BEAVERS
January 26, 2022 04:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBWe hear from lawyers and the petitioner involved in a public law challenge in 2021 against the Scottish Government's beaver killing policy. Learn about the legal issues involved and the implications of the decision for Scotland's beaver population and beyond.
Sir David Amess MP and his legacy for animals
December 15, 2021 10:45 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBWe speak to David Bowles, RSPCA Head of Public Affairs, about some of the causes supported by the late Sir David Amess who was MP for Southend West and a consistent champion of animal welfare throughout his long career. Sir David Amess MP was tragically killed earlier this year, although his legacy lives on. Join us in remembering a great advocate in Parliament against animal suffering who worked for decades alongside the RSPCA and other animal advocacy groups to enshrine animal welfare ...
Law for lobsters - exploring the science behind the law
December 15, 2021 10:10 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBAn independent review of sentience commissioned by the UK Government and conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has concluded there is 'strong scientific evidence decapod crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, prawns, & crayfish) and cephalopod molluscs ( such as such as octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) are sentient.' We discuss the report and it's findings with Claire Howard, Director of Crustacean Compassion, an award-winning animal welfare organisation dedicated to...
Can lobsters, octopus and like species experience sensations such as pain?
December 15, 2021 10:10 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBAn independent review of sentience commissioned by the UK Government and conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has concluded there is 'strong scientific evidence decapod crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, prawns, & crayfish) and cephalopod molluscs ( such as such as octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) are sentient.' We discuss the report and it's findings with Claire Howard, Director of Crustacean Compassion, an award-winning animal welfare organisation dedicated to...
Glue traps - problems and legal solutions
December 01, 2021 11:46 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBRob Espin, solicitor and co-chair of A-Law's Wildlife Law Working Group, discusses problems around the use of rodent glue traps and outlines proposed new laws designed to restrict their use.
A legal perspective on puppy farming and dog theft in Ireland
October 20, 2021 04:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBWe discuss the puppy trade and dog theft in Ireland with Dr. Stephanie O’ Flynn, a Lecturer in Law in the Department of Law and Criminal Justice at Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. Stephanie has a particular interest in the legal treatment of dogs, and in this episode she talks about some of the challenges posed by low welfare breeding, dog theft and the pandemic.
We explore proposed restrictions on the import of dogs into Great Britain
October 06, 2021 06:39 - 39 minutes - 36 MBWith a consultation into the Commercial and Non-Commercial Movement of Pets into Great Britain due to close on 16 Oct 2021, we ask three campaigners (Marc Abraham, Sarah Dixon and Jordan Shelley) at the forefront of the fight against 'puppy farms' and ear cropping, respectively, for their views on import restrictions for dogs with cropped ears or docked tails or under 6 months of age. We ask specifically, should the government exempt animal rescue and re-homing organisations from these restr...
Should pet abduction be a specific offence?
October 01, 2021 11:26 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBIn this episode, we discuss the case for a specific crime of pet abduction. Should the criminal justice system treat the theft of companion animals in the same way as the theft of inanimate property or does the law need reform? We talk to John Cooper QC, who has been advising the pet theft campaign.
Non stun slaughter and religious freedoms: finding a balance
September 08, 2021 07:34 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBWarning: some listeners may find content distressing Dr Joe Wills from Leicester Law School, discusses the decision in Centraal Israëlitisch Consistorie van België and Others. In this case, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Member States could require pre-stunning of animals before slaughter, without infringing fundamental human rights. There has to be a balance between promoting animal welfare and respecting the rights of those in religious communities to practice thei...
Domestic abuse - are animals a missing link?
August 25, 2021 08:11 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBWarning: adult themes, not suitable for children 'Where animals are abused, people are at risk and where people are abused, animals are at risk.' That is the central message of this episode, in which we consider what can be learnt about domestic abuse and coercive control when we take the time to consider the animal within the home. What does this tell us and how can we protect vulnerable family members?
Nowzad 'Praying for a miracle'
August 20, 2021 12:04 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBIn this special edition, Peter Egan, actor, animal advocate and ambassador for the charity Nowzad, talks about the organisation behind the headlines, including the brave team who at the time of broadcast are facing danger from Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Our thoughts are also with other animal rescues in the region, including Kabul Small Animal Rescue and with all people at heightened risk in this region. The title is taken from Nowzad's leader, Pen Farthing who in one of his early tweet...
Legal challenges to government decisions on badger culling and the Ivory Act
August 11, 2021 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBOur legal experts discuss two legal cases that made the headlines in 2020. Friends of Antique Cultural Treasures Ltd v DEFRA [2020] EWCA Civ 649, concerning a challenge to the legality of the Ivory Act 2018, and R (National Farmers Union & Anor) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2020] EWHC 1192 (Admin) challenging a decision not to grant licences to kill badgers in furtherance of its policy for control of bovine TB. Barristers, Frances Allen and Alan Bates e...
REFLECTING ON A CAREER IN ANIMAL LAW WITH PETER STEVENSON OBE
July 28, 2021 05:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBIn this first episode, I am talking animal law with Peter Stevenson, Chief Policy Advisor at Compassion in World Farming (CIWF). Peter is a qualified lawyer who has worked for nearly three decades in animal welfare. During this time, he played a leading role in winning the EU bans on veal crates, battery cages and sow stalls as well as a new status for animals in EU law as sentient beings. In October 2020, Peter was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, in recognition of his ...
Pilot episode - Talking Animal Law podcast
July 23, 2021 19:33 - 3 minutes - 5.18 MBThis episode introduces you to our brand new podcast, Talking Animal Law. In this episode we tell the reader who we are and why we are launching this legal podcast focusing exclusively on animals.