Student Animal Legal Defense Fund of Lewis & Clark Law School

Mission

SALDF is devoted to enhancing the welfare and legal status of all nonhuman animals. As a student organization, our primary goals are to educate ourselves and others concerning the issues and laws that affect animals and to influence positive change.

Activities

Football Fans Against Vick: SALDF students have organized a campaign against the reinstatement of Michael Vick into the NFL for his severe acts of animal cruelty. Our mission is simple and our goal is clear: to facilitate the gathering of signatures from football fans across the nation who oppose Michael Vick's reentry to the NFL. By signing our letter, you will help send the message to the commissioner of the NFL that Michael Vick should be suspended from football indefinitely.

Animal Law Conference: SALDF sponsors and organizes the nation's longest- running annual animal law conference each fall with the assistance of the Center for Animal Law Studies. Please browse the podcasts of the 2008 Conference below, and stay posted for the date of the 17th Annual Conference.

Public Commenting: SALDF members regularly submit public comments on state and federal administrative agency actions that affect animals.

Pro Bono & Volunteer Opportunities: SALDF members are active volunteers in the Portland-area animal community and may be found assisting activists at animal rights protests, participating in local animal group meetings, gathering signatures for animal related initiatives, or volunteering at the Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary, Oregon Humane Society or Cat Adoption Team, among others.

Partnering with ALDF & CALS: SALDF representatives may also be found working at the downtown offices of the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Anti-Cruelty Division, taking the initiative to work with the Center for Animal Law Studies, or partnering with a number of other groups.

Campus Projects: SALDF works to raise awareness about animal issues in the Lewis & Clark community through a number of projects. Projects include:
• Weekly Animal Law Action Items: Each week, students directly influence the lives of animals by taking action on legislation, pending court cases, and administrative rules/hearings.
• Bird Save to decrease the number of birds being killed by striking windows on campus.
• Promoting a veg friendly campus through efforts including new menu items at Bon Appetit for Fall 2009, bake sales and Meatout events.
• and much more!

Dates of Importance

Check out our Events Calendar!

Animal Law Speakers Series

Speakers and Debates: SALDF invites speakers from around the nation to discuss local, national, and international issues relating to animals. Past speakers have included Tom Regan, Steven Wise, and Carol Adams.

Here are some podcasts of our past speaker events:

16th Annual Animal Law Conference features top animal advocates from around the world sharing the most cutting edge ideas in animal law.

Eliminating Invasive Species Professors Hessler and Rohlf, and Nathan Baker from Friends of the Columbia Gorge discuss perspectives of the environmental and animal rights communities on issues related to “invasive” species, and whether it is possible to take a more humane approach to their elimination.

Our Ocean Coalition Speaker Panel Members from a broad-based coalition discuss efforts to establish marine protected areas off the Oregon coast.

Oregon Zoo Bond Measure Debate Matt Rosell of In Defense of Animals and student Micheal Schocket trade arguments of the merits of increasing Zoo funds.

15th Annual Animal Law Conference features experts on animal law issues from all over the country and the world!

Lobbying and Legislation for Progressive Issues- Advice from a Senator with Oregon Senate Ginny Burdick.

Careers in Animal Law with Laura Ireland Moore '01 from the National Center for Animal Law, Erin Zemper '04 from the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office, and George Okulitch, a lobbyist and legislative advocate from the Tresidder Company.

Putting Your Passion Into Practice with Ginny Mikita, Esq., named as one of Michigan's Top Ten Lawyers in 1998 for her legal work in the animal protection field.

14th Annual Animal Law Conference featuring nationally recognized speakers: Steven Wise, Nancy Perry, Bruce Wagman, James B. Mason and more!