UM Student Animal Legal Defense Fund

And the winner is...

2006-02-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Spring 2006 Cutest Pet Contest is Dianka, a ten-month-old Bichon Frise!

Congratulations to Dianka and her guardian, Andrea Mendez. This adorable picture earned just over $15 in donations. Andrea will receive a gift certificate to Pet Supermarket.

The Cutest Pet Contest was held on February 9 in conjunction with the Humane Society Animal Adoption. Contributions totaled $50.40, half of which will go to the Humane Society of Greater Miami. The other half will go to SALDF to be used for supplies for future events.

Other contenders included Puggy the Pug, Gizmo the Bunny, Taylor the Caique Parrot, and Spike the Russian Tortoise. Thank you to all of our participants and generous voters!

Elections March 9

2006-02-27T16:23:00.000-08:00

All dues-paying members are invited to participate in SALDF's elections on Thursday, March 9, at 12:30 p.m. in room 108.

If you haven't paid dues this year, or if you aren't sure whether you did or not, please write to us at umsaldf AT yahoo DOT com. You can pay anytime up until the election if you want to vote.

Meeting and Donation Drive

2006-02-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

SALDF Meeting, Featuring Guest Speaker Heather Veleanu of Humane USA

This Thursday, February 23
Room 108 ~ 12:30-1:30 p.m.

~~Heather Veleanu, Esq. from Humane USA of Florida will speak on how Humane USA Florida exists so that qualified people who care about animals will be elected to our state and federal legislatures.~~

Visit http://www.humaneusa.org/ for more information about the PAC.

* Due to an emergency, Heather Veleanu had to cancel the event this Thursday, but the meeting is still on!

* * * * * * *

DONATION DRIVE EXTENDED
through February 24

We need your donations!! Please drop off pet food, leashes, crates, etc., in the designated box at the Law Library Lobby anytime this week.

Donation Drive, Pet Adoption, Cutest Pet Contest

2006-02-01T07:21:00.000-08:00

February 6 through 10:
Donation Drive. You can donate supplies all week in the lobby of the Law Library - dog crates, kennels, bowls, shampoo, beds, leashes, collars, kitten and puppy food are especially needed.

Thursday, February 9:
Humane Society Pet Adoption
Come meet some of the wonderful dogs waiting for a forever home & bring home a new sweetheart this Valentine's Day!

Location: Undergrad Campus Rock
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Already have the most adorable pet? Enter him or her in the

Cutest Pet Contest

Bring a picture of your companion animal to the Pet Adoption on Thursday. The pet with the most monetary votes wins a Pet Supermarket gift certificate. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Greater Miami.

Spring Happenings

2006-01-23T05:26:00.000-08:00

Meetings, potlucks, volunteer opportunities, and fundraisers -- there is definintely something for everyone this semester. Here are the events we have planned:

January
(18 - Animal Law Symposium - thanks to all those who attended!)
26 (Thursday) - Meeting, 12:30 p.m., Room 108

February
3 (Friday) - Potluck and Movie Screening: Mad Cowboy, 8 p.m. @ Caroline's
9 (Thursday) - Humane Society Pet Adoption/Cutest Pet Contest, 11:30-2, The "Rock"
23 (Thursday) - Meeting, 12:30 p.m., Room 108
25 (Saturday) - Humane Society "Walk for Animals" Volunteer

March
3 (Friday) - Potluck and Movie Screening: Peaceable Kingdom, 8 p.m. @ Caroline's
9 (Thursday) - Meeting and Elections, 12:30 p.m., Room 108
12-19 - Spring Break!
23 (Thursday) - Meeting, 12:30 p.m., Room 108

April
1 (Saturday) - Barrister's Ball
6 (Thursday) - Final Meeting, 12:30 p.m., Room 108
7 (Friday) - SALDF Party or Sublime

Save the Date: Animal Law 101

2005-11-30T15:04:00.000-08:00

We are planning an exciting symposium for Wednesday, January 18th, from 12:30-2 p.m. in room 109.

Developed for law students and law professionals, Animal Law 101 will focus on fostering the growth of animal law in academia and legal practice.
Specifically, this symposium will answer these and many other questions:
• What Is Animal Law?
• What Do Animal Lawyers Do?
• What Can Law Students Do?
• How Does ALDF Help?

Save the date, and tell a friend! Visit http://www.animallawprogram.com for more information.

And the winner is...

2005-11-15T13:29:00.000-08:00

Posted by Picasa

Introducing Stella, winner of SALDF's 2005 Cutest Pet Contest!
(photo submitted by Stella's guardian, Nancy Cordell)
Stella is a four-month-old Italian Greyhound with a tongue the color of Bubble Yum. Stella's fabulous face earned an impressive total of $17.21. Congratulations!

A big THANKS to all those who participated in the first-ever SALDF Cutest Pet Contest. Your pets attracted a great many admirers Monday from 11 to 1. The eight adorable pets - 5 dogs, 2 tortoises and 1 bunny - raised contributions totaling $45.50! The proceeds will be split between the Humane Society of Greater Miami and UM's chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Lisa Keating's lab/chow mix CAESAR came in second, and Josh Zipper's Pug MUGZY came in third. Congratulations Caesar, Lisa, Mugzy, and Josh!

Upcoming Events - November and beyond

2005-11-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

The hurricane may have put a few snags in our group's schedule, but we are still going to have a few events before the end of the semester. Thanks to all those who came to the meeting on Thursday!

Humane Society Pet Adoption
We are tentatively planning to hold the pet adoption at the UM undergrad campus (pending location availability) on ~~Wednesday, November 16, 12:30-2 p.m.~~ Monday, November 14, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering, please email umsaldf@yahoo.com. Include in the email whether or not you have completed the Humane Society Volunteer training, which is required to handle the animals. If you haven't done the training - don't worry! There is plenty to help out with, and you can still play with the dogs.

Cutest Pet Contest
This fundraiser for our chapter of SALDF will be held at the same time and place as the Pet Adoption (11/16, 12:30-2 p.m.). Participants must bring a picture of their pet to the pet-adoption booth to compete for this coveted award. Whichever picture earns the most donations wins (Prize TBA)! The Cutest Pet Contest has had much success with the SALDF chapters that have used it to fundraise, so we are very excited to bring the tradition to UM Law.
EDIT: proceeds will be split 50/50 with the Humane Society of Greater Miami

Harvard Moot Court Competition, and
Legislative Drafting and Lobbying Competition: email Caroline (clgallina@hotmail.com) if you're interested in participating in either of these events, or if you want more information.

Due to Hurricane Wilma and make-up classes, we are postponing our social event until the beginning of Spring Semester.

Also, because the local Humane Society is without power, at least as of 11/2, they are not taking volunteers for the time being. We hope to have a regularly scheduled volunteer effort in the Spring.

Upcoming Events - October

2005-10-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 15: Humane Society Volunteer Orientation
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
16101 W. Dixie Highway Adoption Center
If you are interested in volunteering with the local Humane Society, you must attend an orientation session before you begin volunteering.

Thursday, October 20: SALDF Meeting
12:30 - 1 p.m., Room 109

Friday, October 21: H.O.P.E. Canes Carnival
4-6 p.m., University of Miami School of Law, on the Bricks
The Carnival is a semi-annual event where kids from area shelters come out to the law school bricks for a carnival. The fire department, police and clowns help make the event fun for the children. SALDF may have a booth at the carnival.

Saturday, October 22 - Sunday, October 23: Helping Animals 101
8 a.m. -6 p.m. in Coconut Grove.
The registration fee for students is only $35. http://www.helpinganimals101.com/ for more information and to register.

Saturday, October 22: Film Screening, Mad Cowboy: The Documentary
7-9 p.m., University of Miami Hillel Center, Free Admission
Howard Lyman will present his new film. Admission is free! Check out http://www.madcowboy.com/ for more information.

Wed. 9/28 - Peaceable Kingdom Screening

2005-09-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

Email from Linda Bower:

"This is extremely short notice ... but I am having a screening of Peaceable Kingdom at The Wallflower Gallery, 10 NE 3 St., Downtown Miami, Weds. [9]/28/05 at 7:00 pm. It is an art gallery and a venue for local bands. Mostly college age oriented.
... $5 to get in to cover some vegan food giveaway. See you. Linda"

Humane Society Orientation

2005-09-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

If you would like to volunteer at the Humane Society with SALDF, and if you have not yet attended the mandatory orientation session, here are the next few orientations:

For more information, check out http://www.humanesocietymiami.org/volunteer2.htm.

Saturday 10/1 * 11am - 12:30pm * 16101 W. Dixie Hwy Adoption Ctr
Saturday 10/1 * 4pm - 5:30pm * 17425 SW 97th Ave Ctr
Saturday 10/15 * 11am - 12:30pm * 16101 W. Dixie Hwy Adoption Ctr

You may attend individually, but feel free to reply here and work out carpool arrangements with other SALDF members.

As with any blog, don't post any personal information that you wouldn't want made public. :)

Meeting Thursday, Symposium Friday

2005-09-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is an exciting week for UM Law's chapter of SALDF! Our second meeting is this Thursday, and the Animal and Human Abuse symposium is this Friday. We'd like to see everyone there!

Meeting:

Thursday, September 22

12:30 - 1 p.m.

Room 109

***

Symposium:

Friday, September 23

12:30-5 p.m.

Room 108

* see symposium lineup below in previous post*

Updated Symposium Lineup

2005-09-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

Animal and Human Abuse: A Violent Connection
Friday, September 23, 2005
12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Lecture Room 108
University of Miami School of Law,
113 Miller Drive, 33146, Coral Gables, Florida

Symposium registration is free! 4 CLE credits have been applied for through the Florida Bar. PLEASE REGISTER BY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. E-mail UMSALDF@yahoo.com to register or for more information.

Presented by the University of Miami Student Animal Legal Defense Fund

PROGRAM
12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Welcoming Remarks & Refreshments
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Compassion: Presenting the Link Between Victims of Violence
Animal cruelty serves as a signal that a family may already be suffering from abuse or that a youth may someday turn violent toward humans.
Speaker: Susan Hargreaves, Humane Education Specialist for the Wildlife Care Center in Ft. Lauderdale. Ms. Hargreaves will speak about raising awareness of the animal cruelty and human violence connection and discuss case histories that inspire empathy and compassion.
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Break
1:45 p.m. – 3 p.m. Investigating Crimes of Interfamilial Violence
Animal cruelty, child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse are interconnected crimes – most are perpetrated by people who know their victims.
Speaker: Lieutenant Sherry Schlueter, Founder of the Special Victims and Family Crimes Unit of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Schlueter will speak on a multi-disciplinary approach of investigating crimes that occur in the family setting through law enforcement and the community.
3 – 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Prosecuting Animal Abuse Cases
Florida has animal anti-cruelty statutes and offenders can be criminally prosecuted.
Speaker: Kathleen Pautler, Assistant State Attorney, Miami Dade State Attorney Office. Ms. Pautler will focus on Florida’s laws and the procedure for prosecuting animal abuse cases.
4:15 – 5 p.m. Panel Question and Answer

From St. Thomas SALDF:

2005-09-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

Dear SALDF Members:

Below you can read about news concerning animals after Hurricane Katrina. Take action by emailing or writing local and federal government officials concerning your thoughts on animal rescue efforts.

Sincerely,
Marcella S. Roukas

Send an email to the Mayor of New Orleans concerning evacuation of animals.
http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-evacanimals.asp

Sign a petition urging President Bush to include animals in future disaster response plans.
http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-dpetition.asp

Article where owners refuse to leave their animals in New Orleans
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9260578/

Excellent books on Animal Law and Animal Rights
http://www.dawnwatch.com/recommended_reading.htm

BBC News: Saving Animals in New Orleans
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4233408.stm

Urgent: Demand That Federal and New Orleans Officials Allow Animals to Be Evacuated

2005-09-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-evacanimals.asp

"On August 29, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast. In addition to the human misery that the storm left in its wake, Katrina left many thousands of animals dead and dying. But the greater problem has turned out to be state and federal governments adding to this toll—and causing the slow and agonizing deaths of many thousands of much-loved dogs, cats, and other animals—through its failure to allow animal protection agents to rescue animals."

[click on the top link for more]

First Meeting

2005-09-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Our first meeting of the year is this week! We will be discussing upcoming events for this year.

Date: September 8

Day: Thursday

Time: 12:30

Place: Law School, Room 109

We hope to see you there!