Animals & The Law Editor’s Note This edition of The Arkansas Lawyer is dedicated to animals and the law. The role of the law related to animals has remained constant in many ways over decades. Some of the articles in this edition reflect those unchanging legal concepts about the valuation and regulation of animals. However, no one can deny that the importance of animals in our lives, particularly our household pets, has grown astronomically over the last two decades. The emotional support role of animals is tremendous and with that enhanced role comes more scrutiny of how animals are treated by veterinarians and the public. Recent examples are the questions of how to hold the government responsible for its role in seizing animals1 and the recoverability of damages for emotional distress resulting from the conduct of a doggy daycare.2 The pace of new legal issues related to pets and other animals in our society is sure to increase even more rapidly in the coming years, and this edition provides insight into the current status of the most common issues of animal law. The reader will also note that this issue has an unusual humorous and fun side that is sometimes difficult to achieve in a magazine dedicated to law and lawyers. Even in the context of important and serious legal issues that are themselves no laughing matter, the description of a person’s relationship to animals can bring a smile. For example, many pet owners will be relieved to know that since 1916,
“The importance of pets in the practices of our very members is revealing as their stories and photos in this special edition reveal. Animals indeed have a special place in the law and in our lives, and this special edition hopes to accentuate that sentiment.” Rosalind and Kirby Mouser's Charles the Law Dog, aka Charles Bark-Ly, aka Charlie. “His specialty is emotional support. He began coming to the office with me during the pandemic. When clients began coming back I discovered that 94% of them loved him (the other 6% didn’t like any dogs or thought they smelled like cat). He gets a treat when we get to the office after we open mail and then we walk around outside the building (security sweep). Charlie gets to read his P-Mail. We come inside and he stations himself under my desk until clients arrive.” Wm. Kirby Mouser
10
The Arkansas Lawyer
www.arkbar.com
