Only 10 years ago it would have been difficult to find even a reference to “animal law.” Companion animals and farm animals have always been viewed as personal property, much like pieces of furniture. Now we realize, most of us, that animals have feelings and experience pain, fear and loneliness.

Animal law has become a viable legal specialty with an increasing number of attorneys forming entire practices dedicated to animal issues. And national animal welfare/animal rights organizations promote legislation on the federal and state levels that change the lives of animals for the better, including companion animals, farm animals and wildlife.

The 109th Congress was a mixed bag for animals. Two major victories were the passage of The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Act (as a result of Hurricane Katrina) and a provision to close a tax loophole that allowed trophy hunters to write off the costs of their hunting trips as charitable donations.

Other bills that came close but were not passed concerned animal fighting, horse slaughter and primates as pets. These all had overwhelming bipartisan support but were ultimately blocked by Republican leaders.

The 110th Congress is underway and to quote the Humane Society of the United States: “We are at an unprecedented point in history when it comes to animal protection legislation. Opposition to animal cruelty is a universal value, and Americans overwhelmingly support strong laws to protect animals.”

The bills that were not passed and are now pending include:

� HR 503 which would protect horses from inhumane treatment and slaughter which is currently before the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Agriculture Committee. Rep. Michael Arcuri is a cosponsor.

� Animal Fighting Legislation that would authorize felony level jail time for violations of dog fighting, cock fighting and dog-hog fighting was reintroduced in the new Congress. (H.R.137/S261). To indicate your support of these bills, call, e-mail or write your representatives. To find your Congressional representatives, visit http://www.visi.com/juan/congress.

A number of pro-animal bills made some progress including those dealing with antifreeze poisoning, the Canadian seal hunt, chimpanzee sanctuaries, Class B animal dealers, downed farm animals and puppy mills. And new bills were introduced dealing with such issues as farm animal treatment, fur labeling, Internet hunting, steel-jaw leghold traps, antibiotic overuse in factory farms and cloned food labeling. These bills are pending.

To follow the progress of all the above bills visit www.humanescorecard.org. Let your legislators know that you are watching and urge them to represent your interests and those of voiceless animals.

Next Sunday, I will continue with laws in New York state.

Judy Vorreuter is the founder and director of Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes