Event Description
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:
6.0 Standard CLE Credits Approved | 203055
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:
Remote
participation is not available. A materials book will be available for
purchase if you are unable to attend. Please contact Christina Walters for more information.
Want more information about
the
Animal
Law Section
?
To register with a check, please mail in
this registration form.
Need to cancel? Please see our
cancellation policy.
Questions?
Contact
Christina Walters
|
612-278-6329