2015 Animal Law Seminar

Deadline to Register: April 14, 2015

The Animal Law Seminar 2015 will cover current hot topics in animal law. 

Schedule:

8:00 - 8:30 Check-In and Light Breakfast

8:30 - 8:45 Opening Remarks

8:45 - 9:30 Charitable Organizations and Animal Welfare
Emily Robertson, Robertson Law Office, LLC
This session will address considerations when thinking about starting an animal charitable organization, the basic steps needed to establish the organization, and a brief overview of liability issues generally affecting animal shelters and rescues.

9:30 - 10:15 Prosecuting Abuse Cases
Maggie Samec, Ramsey County Attorney's Office; Maria DeWolf, Assistant St. Paul City Attorney; Jessica Bierwerth, Dakota County Attorney's Office and Nancy Minion, Animal Welfare Advocate
This session will discuss the ethical challenges and responsibilities of City and County Attorneys regarding animal abuses cases, and the animal cruelty statute and how it is utilized by City and County Attorneys.

10:15 - 10:30 Break 

10:30 - 11:30 Breeder Law History and Update 
James T. Clark, Messerli and Kramer; Beth Thompson, Minnesota Board of Animal Health and Nancy Minion, Animal Welfare Advocate and President of Second Chance Animal Rescue 
History of the breeder bill issue, the process to get the law passed, what the law means, and how it is administered.

11:30 - 12:00 HSUS Issues - Update on Litigation affecting Minnesota Animals  
Christine Coughlin, Minnesota State Director of the Humane Society of the United States and Howard Goldman, Humane Society of the United States
This session will discuss the history and status of the Federal Court decision which restored Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves as well as the history and status of litigation involving Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Minnesota. 

12:00 - 12:45 Lunch 

12:45 - 1:30 Cats and the Law
Elizabeth Holtz, Alley Cat Allies
Many communities have animal control laws that inadvertently harm cats and make Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) more difficult for caregivers.  In this session, advocates will learn how to make the case for TNR to their own city councils, including passing an ordinance affecting cats or changing existing law. The top legal issues affecting cats at the local government level will also be discussed along with a brief look at the intersection of cats and property law.
  

1:30 - 2:15 Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: Programs and Partnerships to Keep Pets and People Safe  
Charles Hempeck, Executive Director of Anna Maries Alliance and Margaret Bushinger, Anna Maries Alliance 
71% of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters report their batterer injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets, and 25 - 50% say they delayed fleeing for fear of what would happen to animals left with batterers. Learn how to advise your clients about accommodating pets in domestic violence shelters and what resources are available to battered women and their pets in Minnesota, including shelters that accept pets and safe haven programs.    

2:15 - 2:30 Break

2:30 - 3:15 The Beagle Freedom Project
Kevin Chase, Beagle Freedom Project
When beagles are no longer wanted for research purposes, including medical/pharmaceutical, household products and cosmetics, some labs attempt to find homes for adoptable, healthy beagles. Working directly with these labs, Beagle Freedom Project is able to remove and transport beagles to place them in loving homes. All rescues are done legally with the cooperation of the facility.  In 2014, Minnesota became the first state in the US and first political body in the world to mandate that laboratory dogs and cats be adopted when research is over.

3:15 - 4:00 Legal Considerations of Pets and their Families: Pre-Nuptial Agreements, Divorce, and Estate Planning
Jayne Sykora, Sykora & Santini, PLLP and Rebecca Schack, Meier Schack
This session will discuss the legal implications of considering pets in pre-nuptial agreements, divorce and estate planning. Learn how Minnesota law handles custody of pets in a divorce and after death, and the difference when proper planning is in place.

4:00 - 6:00 Networking Reception (complementary drinks and appetizers)

CLE Credits:

Cost:

Section Member: $60 
MSBA Member not in the section:  $90
Attorney Non-Member:  $120
Law Student: $20
Non-Attorneys - $25 (must call to register) 
Join the Animal Law Section and for $70 (must call to register) 

Remote Participation: