Human & Companion Animal Bonds

Join the Animal Law program in exploring the evolving bond between humans and companion animals, engage in meaningful multidisciplinary discussions with an exciting group of experts, and learn about the existence and relevance of this relationship. Can the legal recognition of this relationship serve as a strategy to accomplish meaningful legal status for the non-human members of today’s families?

MSU Law welcomes Professor Andrea Laurent-Simpson, author of Just Like Family: How the Companion Animal Joined the Household, as the keynote speaker. She will delve into the societal shifts that have shaped the role of companion animals into what it is today.

MSU Law Professor David Favre will close a day full of thought-provoking presentations by analyzing current legal perspectives and prospects for the future, addressing questions such as: Are they really just property? In tort law, animals are often considered property, while in trust law, they can be beneficiaries. How is the legal system adapting to this new reality?

Host or Publisher MSU College of Law