There's a new puppy in our house, and we're treating her like a queen. At dawn's early whimper, we hop out of bed and let Lucca outside. We feed her on demand. We're not just being kind, we're being cautious. We can't afford another lawsuit.
Animal law is a burgeoning field.
Attorneys with clients named Ginger and Snuggums are stepping to the bar, and every dog is having its day in court. Cats, too, not to mention a dolphin named Rainbow who, with the help of an animal lawyer, recently sued her aquarium. Two years ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled on a case involving the right of a lonely chimp named Barney to have a companion share his cage. Some may see this as animal rights run amok, but our other dog, Rosie, begs to differ. Back when other pets were just howling about their rights, Rosie was getting even.