Written by Suzana Gartner & Alyssa Kelliher Divorce can be messy and hard during normal times. When you consider the global situation and the pandemic, the stresses can be more difficult. Even with amicable divorces, separating a single household into two can be challenging.  Separation is even harder when children and animals are involved. Pet […]

By Suzana Gartner & Alyssa Kelliher Horses are complex highly social animals that need other horses for companionship. Naturally, horses have rich and varied social lives where they play and groom each other. Domestic horses need room to exercise and run. They need regular veterinary, dental and hoof care. The sad fact is that most […]

The world has drastically changed due to COVID-19. Health care workers are putting their lives on the line every day taking care of COVID-19 patients. Most people are staying home. As a result, more people than ever before are fostering and adopting companion animals. People who thought they didn’t have time to help an animal […]

By: Suzana Gartner & Hannah Cinel             Many dog guardians would agree, myself included that our furry friends can feel emotions just like us. My dog’s excitement and joy when I return home from work each day is palpable. A recent study, as discussed in the New York Times, showed us that the sights and […]

The decision of whether or not to consume animal products is a personal one, albeit one with far-reaching impacts. As an animal rights lawyer, you might expect me to take a definitive stance on the moral implications of that decision, and offer my reasons. Rather than do that, the idea that I want to put […]

It is the holidays, and many people choose to add a fur baby to families at this time, and it is a big decision. There are many wonderful companions to be adopted at your local shelters or through private rescues that can be found online. If you do make a choice to purchase your new […]

The question of choosing between a coffee-maker and your beloved pet seems to have an absurdly easy answer. Of course, you would choose your pet: they are a member of your family and are irreplaceable. Unfortunately, current Canadian law disagrees with you. In the eyes of the law, pets are nothing more than a piece […]

Farming laws in Canada set the standard of care for the 800 million land animals slaughtered in the country each year1. While most Canadians believe that the government ensures humane farming practices, this is regrettably far from the truth2. The disconnect that occurs between farm animals as a product and animals as thinking, feeling beings […]

Adopting a pet is a strong strategy to relieve feelings of loneliness. In addition, companion animals can have many positive effects on people of all ages. For example, companion animals can help elders deal with social isolation or keep them company if they’re homebound. Similarly, studies show that companion animals can help young children live […]

For thousands of years, humans have exploited animals for their entertainment. Zoos are a leading example of this type of exploitation. Exotic animals are often taken from their native habitat, or a falsely advertised sanctuary and placed in zoos far from their country of origin. Zoos operate mainly to entertain humans and can have devastating […]