Every year thousands of animals are misdiagnosed and made worse at the very places where you take them for healing. Sometimes it is negligence, sometimes it is pure incompetence, or the conscious indifference to the consequences of an action or inaction. Yet, veterinary malpractice often goes unpunished because care takers are not aware of their rights and are deeply grieving. These medical professional are thus allowed to continue hurting other animals.

So if your veterinarian performed a different procedure than the one described to you, which resulted in the injury or death of your companion animal; your veterinarian failed to explain the risks of whatever procedure was going to be performed on your companion animal; your vet improperly spayed or neutered your prize-winning dog; you have to reason to suspect that your clinic is covering up for someone’s negligence or willful action... call us to find out your rights, recover veterinary bills and expenses, as well as damages for the inability to walk, pet, and play with your best friend. Help raise the standards of the veterinary profession at the same time.

Your companion animal may be “property” under the law, but they are so much more than that to you. They are part of the family, part of you, part of your joys and sorrows.

So if your dog was injured or died while in the care of your groomer; your next door neighbor’s dog injured or killed your companion animal; your horse escaped from the barn because someone left the gate open and it was killed when it was hit by a car; your neighbor, dog walker, or dog trainer injured or killed your companion animal... call us to find out your rights, recover veterinary bills and expenses, and obtain fair compensation for the inability to walk, pet, and play with your best friend.

Most insurance companies will offer you “market value” as a settlement for the loss of your best friend. However, you may be entitled to more (i.e., intrinsic value, damages for emotion distress, etc.) for the loss of use, companionship, friendship, protection, security, other special skills or abilities of your companion animal.

So if you have a pet policy and they denied, or unfairly reduced, coverage; your home insurer denied, or unfairly reduced, coverage; your companion animal was hurt or killed on someone else’s property and their insurer denied, or unfairly reduced, coverage; are not satisfied with the answers the insurer provided to your questions... call us to find out your rights, recover veterinary bills and expenses, and obtain fair compensation for the inability to walk, pet, and play with your best friend.

Your civil rights may have been violated if, because of your practice of vegetarianism, veganism, or belief in animal anti-cruelty.

So if a police or animal control officer shot your dog without probable cause; you were denied unemployment benefits because you quit your job as a vet technician over the clinic’s attempt to cover up abuse or malpractice; failed a biology class or had your diploma withheld because you refused to dissect or vivisect a frog or other animal... call us to find out your animal welfare-based constitutional rights.

Tenants want to enjoy the responsibility and privilege of sharing their family life with companion animals, especially when they have relied upon oral and written assurances from a landlord that, despite what the rental agreement say, they may cohabit with nonhuman animals.

Mentally or physically disabled individuals may seek the accommodation of a therapy or service animal without incurring additional deposits or restrictions on suitable housing, as provided under federal and state law.

Landlords want to know that their properties will remain clean and habitable for future tenants, and that any companion animals who share tenancy will not present a threat or nuisance to neighbors.

Call us for advice on premises liability and eviction issues.

Every year pet owners (care takers) spend billions of dollars purchasing food, toys, medications and a variety of other products for the physical and mental well-being of our companion animals. Sometimes, these products cause serious injury and even the death of your best friend.

So if the orchard next to your property sprayed insecticide and it killed your bees; a flea spray stopped the fleas from biting but poisoned your rabbit; your dog had an intestinal tear or airway obstruction because its favorite chew toy fragmented into edible pieces; the food you gave your companion animal contained harmful and toxic products or by-products... call us to find out your rights, recover veterinary bills and expenses, and obtain fair compensation for the inability to walk, pet, and play with your best friend.

When a couple separates, many times the companion animals are used as a tool to manipulate the other party. Sometimes, they are injured or killed to intimidate the other party. Even in the best of circumstances and amicable separations, who gets to keep the companion animal, financial support and visitation rights often are issues.

So if you are getting married, protect yourself through a pre-nuptial addendum; are getting separated or divorced; your soon to be ex-spouse or partner is threatening, or abusing, your animal companion; have already lost possession or are fighting to keep possession... call us to find out your rights, help reunite you with your companion animal, or obtain fair visitation rights, custodial exchanges, or permanent custody.

Sometimes we have to take drastic actions to prevent injury or death to our companion animal. Often this can result in criminal charges brought by the state’s prosecutor.

So if you were charged with assault or murder for having defended your companion animal from fatal or serious bodily harm; were arrested for engaging in civil disobedience and animal rights demonstrations; are facing a gross misdemeanor for having your “dangerous” dog outside the proper enclosure and not restrained; have been threatened with a felony because your dog, with no history of aggression and in response to teasing, bit a minor... call us to find out your rights.

The American with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and certain state laws, provide a variety of protections for individuals with service animals.

So if you were ejected from a supermarket for bringing in your licensed and certified service animal; denied housing for you and your psychiatrist-prescribed therapy feline; improperly charged a pet deposit for shared accommodation with a guide dog.. call us to find out your rights and obtain full compensation for the professional training, out-of-pocket costs, gear, and grooming supplies and the hundreds of hours individuating your replacement service animal, as well your loss of right to travel, to quiet enjoyment and solitude, and emotional distress.

Unfortunately, many times, a care taker’s death precedes that of a companion animal. Unless proper steps are taken, these faithful companions may be taken to a shelter for adoption or euthanasia when no surviving family member can’t or won’t take care of them.

Call us and ensure that your companion animal receives suitable care after you have become incapacitated or deceased through a guardianship, properly drafted will, durable power of attorney, and pet trust.

Agencies of the government, such as animal control boards, can make judicial decisions which harmful to your companion animal. However, often they are not the last authority on the issue.

So if your companion animal was labeled as “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous” by an animal control officer or humane investigator; you were victimized by an illegal impound; deprived of your constitutional rights due to lack of due process; disagree with a permit denial... call us to find out your rights.

While our practice is primarily focused on defending the rights of animals and those who risk their freedom for them, our experience in the corporate world also enables us to provide an array of more generalized legal services.

So if you want to incorporate a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing animals, or providing goods and/or services to animals; need help drafting, reviewing or negotiating contracts; are having problems with your suppliers or getting paid by your customers... call us and let us help you.