2018 Animal Law Seminar

Deadline to Register: April 23, 2018

Save the Date for the 2018 Animal Law Seminar. The Seminar will cover current hot topics in animal law.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Schedule:

8:00 - 9:00  Registration and Breakfast

9:00 - 9:30  What's Happening for Animals at the Minnesota Legislature?

Christine Coughlin | Minnesota Director for HSUS

Every legislative session, thousands of bills are introduced at the Minnesota Legislature, with scores of them directly or indirectly affecting animals. This brief presentation will provide a snapshot of some of the most impactful pieces of legislation and their current status.

9:30-11:00  Factory Farm Panel

Jeff Brown | Jeff Brown Law PLLC
Kristi Rosenquist
Sonja Trom Eayrs

Attorneys Jeff W. Brown, Kristi Rosenquist and Sonja Trom Eayrs will discuss the facts and law involved in challenging the increasing number of unwanted confined animal feedlots plaguing Southern Minnesota. The panelists will discuss the grassroots advocacy efforts directed at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as well as how and why Minnesota’s negatively changing statutory landscape elevates the importance of county and township zoning feedlot controls and citizen’s rights to due process before feedlot permits are granted.

11:00 - 12:00  The Captive Wildlife Crisis

Tammy Thies | The Wildcat Sanctuary

The Captive Wildlife Crisis is a largely unknown, dangerous, and often illegal problem in the United States. Despite federal and state laws, law enforcement agencies face a significant challenge as they work to identify and inspect hundreds of private owners who may or may not make their ownership of a wild animal known. The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, MN is a rescue organization that works alongside law enforcement agencies such as USDA, USFW, and local Sherriff’s departments when captive wild cats must be seized or are willfully surrendered. Ms. Thies will discuss the scope of the Captive Wildlife Crisis in Minnesota, as well as her experience helping to pass Minnesota’s Regulated Animal Law and the challenges the state faces when it comes to enforcement.

12:00 - 1:00  Lunch

1:00 - 2:00  Using the Endangered Species Act to Protect Rare Wildlife

Collette Adkins | Center for Biological Diversity

We're currently experiencing the worst spate of species die-offs since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Threats like habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, overexploitation and climate change are driving this extinction crisis. Collette Adkins, a Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, will discuss the Endangered Species Act and her work using law and science to protect rare wildlife. Her presentation will highlight her efforts to protect Minnesota’s gray wolves and moose under the Endangered Species Act, as well as a case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court involving critical habitat protections for an endangered frog.

2:00 - 3:00  Cats and Coffee: An inside look at Minneapolis’ first cat café

Danielle Rasmussen | Cafe Meow
Annette Tauer | No Kitten Left Behind MN
Jillian Dressel | No Kitten Left Behind MN

This presentation will cover the challenges faced in starting a cat cafe, including zoning issues, health code regulations, and working with the Minneapolis City Council.  Cat cafes are an important channel for rescues to get more cats into loving forever homes.  Presenters will also cover adoption papers and contracts affiliated with the business.

3:00 - 4:30  Working Together to Save Them All - Legislating for No Kill

Ledy VanKavage | Best Friends Animal Society

The humane movement has made great strides to reduce  the number of dogs and cats killed in shelters but some barriers still exist. These barriers can include the lack of transparency regarding the number of dogs and cats entering and leaving shelters, regressive policies and procedures, breed discriminatory policies, and hold times that don't encourage shelter, neuter, vaccinate, and return procedures for healthy community cats.  All hands are needed if we are to achieve a 90% national save rate by 2025.  Come learn about how to transform Minnesota into a No Kill state.