Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at UC Davis

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapters are law student groups that are affiliated with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and share its mission to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) at UC Davis School of Law is dedicated to providing a forum for education, advocacy, and scholarship aimed at protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system, and raising the profile of the field of animal law. To further its mission, SALDF engages in on-campus activities, including: hosting speakers, debates, and conferences on current issues in animal protection law; carrying out research projects for lawyers and organizations promoting animal protection; networking with students at other law schools, colleges, universities, and high schools; and conducting educational events such as information tables and video screenings on pertinent issues. 

Animal Legal Defense Fund

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. ALDF accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are punished for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting harmful animal protection legislation, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.

Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. Today, ALDF’s groundbreaking efforts to push the U.S. legal system to end the suffering of abused animals are supported by thousands of dedicated attorneys and more than 200,000 members and supporters. Every day, ALDF works to protect animals by:

• Filing groundbreaking lawsuits to stop animal abuse and expand the boundaries of animal law.
• Providing free legal assistance to prosecutors handling cruelty cases.
• Working to strengthen state anti-cruelty statutes.
• Encouraging the federal government to enforce existing animal protection laws.
• Nurturing the future of animal law through Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapters and our Animal Law Program.
• Providing public education through seminars, workshops and other outreach efforts.

In addition to our national headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have offices in Portland and Los Angeles.