Animal Law Podcast #77: The Animal Defense Partnership

10/27/21 • 49 min

On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak with David Ebert, co-founder of The Animal Defense Partnerhip, about the work of this “pro bono counsel for animal protection charities.” As David points out, the purpose of ADP is not to litigate animal rights issues, but to provide animal protection nonprofits with the legal services that any type of organization needs to function properly. From the process of forming the entity and registering with the IRS, all the way to avoiding fundraising pitfalls, drafting contracts, managing crises, and handling human resources issues, those working for animals have the same legal issues as everyone else. Too often they end up spending their time and effort and money complying with such requirements, rather than being free to do the work that needs to be done to help animals directly. That’s when ADP seeks to help out.

David Ebert founded the Animal Defense Partnership with Joel Litvin after a long and successful career in commercial litigation as a means to devote himself more fully to protecting animals and reducing suffering. Before retiring from practice in October 2019, David litigated complex commercial matters and also served as outside general counsel to several small and midsize companies. Now, in addition to helping many, many animal protection organizations through ADP, David is also a member of the Pro Elephant Network, Rowdy Girl Sanctuary’s Rancher Advisory Coalition, the Board of Advisors for TerraMar Research, and the Advisory Board of FACE, i.e. Free All Captive Elephants).

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The Animal Law Podcast is proud to partner with The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc., a US-based national independent think tank pursuing a paradigm shift in human responsibility towards, and value of, non-human animals by advancing animal law, animal policy, and related interdisciplinary studies.

As the Animal Law Podcast 2021 Exclusive Sponsor, the The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc is dedicated to producing and disseminating outstanding, independent, academic, and public policy research and programming; and pursuing projects and initiatives focused on advancing law and policy pertaining to animals.

You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

The graphics for the OHH podcasts are created by the wonderful Laurie Johnston of Two Trick Pony. Don’t forget to also listen to the award-winning, weekly signature OHH podcast — now in its eleventh glorious year!

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Previous Episode

Animal Law Podcast #76: Creating a Sanctuary State

On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak with David Michelson, Oregon-based animal rights activist and chief petitioner of the Yes On IP13 campaign, which is the effort to pass a ballot initiative that would dramatically change the legal landscape for animals in that state. Basically, what they are trying to do is to make Oregon’s anti-cruelty law do what it purports to do and what many people erroneously think it already does, i.e., protect animals from cruelty. Sounds like a modest concept, but, as we all know, if they are successful, it would change everything. Honestly, this interview kind of blew my mind and shifted my horizons about what is possible. I hope it does the same for you.

David Michelson is an Oregon-based animal rights activist operating as the chief petitioner of the Yes On IP13 campaign and serving as director of the petition committee End Animal Cruelty. Originally with a background in psychology and public health, David’s dedication to animal rights activism began after bearing witness to the pigs being sentenced to gas chambers as part of the slaughter process. After first joining the animal rights movement in Denver, Colorado as an organizer for street outreach, David has since relocated to Portland.

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The North American Animal Law Conference, in collaboration with the Canadian Animal Law Conference Scholars Track, will showcase animal law and policy scholarship that is conducive to deeper thought and consideration of a particular topic. The North American Animal Law Conference features keynote presentations by prominent scholars from across North America and a culminating evening panel of renowned experts. It is a 1-day virtual event, Friday October 1. More information can be found at thebrooksinstitute.org/naalc-2021.

Next Episode

Animal Law Podcast #78: The Case of Happy, an Elephant

On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak, once again, with Steven Wise, founder and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP). He joins me to talk about a truly extraordinary, potentially groundbreaking, case now pending in the highest court in New York State. As in the other cases Steve has joined us to discuss in the past, the issue here is a matter of whether a particular nonhuman animal, one who can be shown to demonstrate a high level of cognition and autonomy, is entitled to fundamental rights under the common law. More specifically, can an imprisoned elephant named Happy be entitled to a writ of habeas corpus?

Steven M. Wise has practiced animal protection law for 30 years throughout the US and is the author of four books: Rattling the Cage – Toward Legal Rights for Animals; Drawing the Line – Science and the Case for Animal Rights; Though the Heavens May Fall – The Landmark Trial That Led to the End of Human Slavery; and An American Trilogy – Death, Slavery, and Dominion Along the Banks of the Cape Fear River. Watch Steve’s TED Talk on nonhuman animal rights here.

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The Brooks Institute is excited to share a new FREE resource, Animal Law Fundamentals! Animal Law Fundamentals is a documentary-style series of video presentations and scholarly papers on the fundamentals of animal law by some of North America’s notable animal law scholars. The goal of this series is to make the fundamentals of animal law accessible to the public from premier subject matter experts. It is an orientation for anyone interested in gaining a substantive overview on an animal law subject matter quickly and effectively by listening to an academic or practicing scholar, as well as, having a companion paper into which there can be a ‘deep dive’. View the trailer, full presentation and accompanying paper here.

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You can listen to the Animal Law Podcast directly on our website (at the top of this page) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Don’t forget to also listen to the award-winning, weekly signature OHH podcast — now in its eleventh glorious year!