Where an animal belongs may seem obvious: Wildlife belong in their native habitat. Companion animals belong in homes with their families. Farm animals belong on farms.
But what happens when the location society has designated for an animal is not a place where that animal can thrive?
That question will be addressed at the upcoming conference of the Michigan State University College of Law Animal Law program: “Animals in Wrong Places: Law, Society and the Right of Place.” [November 5, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Castle Board Room, MSU Law Building]
The all-day conference will bring together scholars, attorneys, advocates, and practitioners to examine the role of the law in human-animal conflicts in three categories -- wildlife, companion animals, and farm animals.
“The idea of animals in wrong places allows us to have shared conversations about different animals in various scenarios,” said Angie Vega, director of the Animal Law Program and one of the conference organizers.
“Humans often use animals for their needs – and it could be the wrong place for the animal,” she said. “Who makes that determination, whose interests are factored in, and are there opportunities for the legal system to have more meaningful consideration given to the animal’s well-being?”
Consider Colombia’s hippos. Introduced by humans in the 1980s, they established a growing population outside their native territory. Their presence raises tough questions about non-native species, environmental protection, government responsibility, and the interests of the animals themselves.
Small farms, such as chickens, are often kept in battery cages. This severely restricts their movement and denies them the opportunity to express normal behaviors, such as dust bathing, nesting, foraging, and perching.
Regarding pets, the law often lags behind societal views, said Rebecca Wisch, the Center’s Associate Editor.
“The law often lags behind changing social attitudes toward companion animals while wildlife and agricultural animals tend to be viewed more through a utilitarian lens,” she said. “That distinction can contribute to significant differences in the legal protections afforded to dissimilar categories of animals.
Each of these areas will be addressed by experts attending the conference. They include:
- Celeste Dunn, attorney, will address wildlife rehabilitation and regulatory disputes;
- Alejandra Osego, anthropologist, will speak about Colombia’s hippos;
- University of Michigan Professor Betsy Fisher will speak about immigration law and companion animals;
- Allie Phillips, attorney and founder & CEO of the Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T), will talk about domestic violence and companion animals;
- Dr. Seven Mattes, associate professor in the Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science at MSU, will address human-animal relationships
- Representatives from Barn Sanctuary will talk about rescuing farm animals.
The annual conference acknowledges MSU Law’s longstanding role in animal law. The program maintains the Animal Legal & Historical Center at animallaw.info, a major source of animal law materials and legal analysis, and publishes the Animal and Natural Resource Law Review, one of three animal law journals in the country.
The program’s resources are used by students, attorneys, scholars, advocates, and journalists in the United States and internationally.