Animal Legal Defense Fund

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Animal Legal Defense Fund

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Since 1979, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has fought to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life.

08/26/2026

What happens to animals inside laboratories?

In 2025, 31% of animals covered by federal protections were used in studies that intentionally caused physical pain or distress — and in some cases, that suffering was deliberately left unrelieved.

These numbers don’t reflect the psychological suffering caused by confinement, isolation, and being denied the ability to engage in natural behaviors. These conditions can cause lasting harm, including anxiety, abnormal behaviors, and self-injury.

Matt Rossell, ALDF Campaigns Manager, has seen these conditions firsthand. As an undercover investigator, he spent two years documenting conditions inside a primate laboratory — and used that evidence to help force changes in government oversight.

What did he witness? What did he learn? And what needs to change?

Read our full interview with Matt here: https://aldf.org/article/fighting-for-animals-used-in-research/

08/20/2026

Interested in a career in animal law?

Join us September 2 for a webinar, My Life as an Animal Lawyer: Career Pathways & Advice: Legislation. Hear from Kim Kelly, Legislative Affairs Program Director at ALDF, and Praveen Varanasi, Executive Director of the Animal Legal Defense Legislative Fund, about what inspired them to pursue careers in animal law, reflect on their law school experiences, and offer advice for students!

Register here: https://aldf.org/article/my-life-as-an-animal-lawyer-career-pathways-advice-legislation/)

08/14/2026

More than 100 million animals are used in experiments and for testing in the United States each year. Many people assume animals are experimented on to directly advance human health or cure disease. But most animal experimentation is actually “basic research,” conducted to satisfy human curiosity rather than to develop specific treatments or cures.

Even when animal experiments are supposedly intended to develop drugs for humans, estimates suggest that approximately 95% of drugs that appear safe and effective in animals fail in human trials.

We've checked in with our resident animal research experts - Dr. Stacy Lopresti-Goodman and Matt Rossell to answer the most pressing questions about animal research and how ALDF is fighting for change.

Read the full interview here: https://aldf.org/article/fighting-for-animals-used-in-research/

08/08/2026

Momentum is building to end cat declawing.

One of the biggest trends in our 2025 State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report is the rapid expansion of cat declawing bans.

In 2025 alone, California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island enacted new laws, doubling the number of states that prohibit unnecessary declawing.

Declawing is a painful amputation that can cause lifelong harm. We're encouraged to see more states recognizing that this practice has no place outside of legitimate medical treatment.

Read the full report at alder.org/rankings 🐾

08/05/2026

We're so excited to share a happy story with you about a very special chimpanzee named Toby.

Toby started life in a roadside zoo that also bred chimpanzees for the pet trade. Ripped from his mother as an infant and sold to a private buyer, he next spent more than 30 years in rural Indiana, most of them caged alone in a bleak garage where he reportedly lived on junk food and soda — a far cry from the wild home his parents once knew.

When his "owner" passed away, Toby's future looked dire. According to a tipster, Toby's owner had decreed that Toby should be killed instead of finding him a new home.

But fortunately, that tip made its way to us. The Center for Great Apes was able to welcome Toby and we were able to fund Toby's transport to his new sanctuary home.

Now, Toby is settling in to his happy new life. For the first time since he was a baby, he can see and hear other members of his own species, and soon, he'll start the process of integrating with his fellow chimpanzees. In the meantime, he has new toys to play with, soft bedding, healthy food, and the chance to climb, swing, and explore in all the ways he was denied for so long.

We can't wait to share updates about how Toby is thriving in his new sanctuary home. Stay tuned!

07/28/2026

Big Win in Missouri! Governor Kehoe just signed a cross-reporting bill into law, making human service professionals mandated reporters of suspected animal abuse, and animal control officers and humane investigators mandated reporters of child and elder abuse.

The new law highlights the well established link between animal and human violence and the mechanisms provided by it will be invaluable in the fight to protect Missouri's most vulnerable citizens.

Thank you to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, Representative Holly Jones, and Senator Tracy McCreary for their tireless work on this important bill over the years!

07/23/2026

ALDF is now accepting applications for animal law course grants up to $5,000 to cover instructor salary!

Whether it's to bring back a course or launch a brand new one, check out aldf.org/CourseGrants for more details and how to apply.

07/21/2026

No family should have to experience the loss of a beloved companion this way.

Every year, thousands of dogs are shot during encounters with law enforcement—but communities that implement comprehensive animal encounter training have shown these tragedies can be dramatically reduced.

Our latest commentary by Chris Green, ALDF Executive Director, explores what Jameson's death teaches us and why mandatory training is essential to preventing future loss.

Read here: https://aldf.org/article/the-lapd-tragically-killed-a-dog-named-jameson-but-there-is-a-way-to-keep-animals-safe-in-the-future/

07/16/2026

Today, ALDF is testifying at a New York City Council hearing in support of Intro 943, "Romanch's Law", recently renamed in honor of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist who tragically died after being thrown from a runaway Central Park carriage. If passed, this law would responsibly phase out New York City's horse-drawn carriage industry.

Years of failed reforms have shown that stronger regulations are not enough. The only lasting way to protect New York City's carriage horses — and the public — is to phase out the industry.

Dozens of advocates attended a rally ahead of the hearing with a unified voice saying that the time for action is now.

Big thanks to the bill sponsors: Christopher Marte, Joann Ariola , Shahana K. Hanif, Carl Wilson , Gale A. Brewer, Tiffany L. Cabán, Harvey D. Epstein, Sandy Nurse, Phil Wong , Julie Won, Frank Morano, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Lincoln Restler, Shekar Krishnan, Shaun Abreu, Chris Banks, Chi A. Ossé, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Oswald J. Feliz, Mercedes Narcisse, Eric Dinowitz, Virginia Maloney , Nantasha M. Williams, Elsie Encarnación, Inna Vernikov

And thank you Council Member Marte, Lynn Schulman 舒曼琳 , and Speaker Julie Menin for their support.

Address

PO Box 96041
Washington D.C., DC
20077

Telephone

+17077952533

Website

https://linktr.ee/animallegaldefensefund

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