TIPS Animal Law Committee and Law in Public Service Committee members partnered with Safe Humane Chicago on August 4 at Chicago Animal Care & Control to learn about Safe Humane’s Court Case Dogs Program and work with dogs in the program. Author A.J. Albrecht is second from right in the front row.
Photo by John Pavlou.
Animal-loving lawyers found time during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago to participate in two TIPS Law in Public Service Committee projects that benefitted the city’s dogs.
On August 2, approximately 15 conference attendees handmade over 30 dog tug toys, which were then donated to the Anti-Cruelty Society. The Anti-Cruelty Society is a founding member of the Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance (CASA), whose mission is to build a community of caring by helping pets and educating people. Many of the dogs in their care enjoy a good game of tug—thanks to CNA for their generous sponsorship of this project.
The TIPS Animal Law Committee organized an outing on August 4 to the Chicago Animal Care and Control Center to volunteer with Safe Humane Chicago. Well-known within the animal welfare movement for coining the term “court case dogs,” Safe Humane’s mission is to create safe and humane communities by inspiring positive relationships between people and animals. Their Court Case Dog Program began in 2010, working to ensure that dogs seized from owners facing criminal charges were no longer seen as simply “evidence,” languishing in cages until their inevitable euthanasia at the conclusion of their owners’ court cases. Since that time, Safe Humane has placed over 1,000 court case dogs into loving homes; their team of dedicated volunteers and dog training and behavior professionals focus on helping the dogs reach their full potential.
Today, Safe Humane has grown into an alliance of nontraditional partners that recognize the connections between animal abuse and interpersonal violence and the benefits of the human-animal bond. Safe Humane now runs many great programs in addition to the Court Case Dog Program (which continues with great success), focusing on education, advocacy, and second chances for homeless animals.
Approximately 15 TIPS members enjoyed an afternoon of learning about Safe Humane’s lifesaving work, meeting adoptable dogs, and helping to socialize them with Safe Humane’s volunteers. This was the second time the TIPS Animal Law Committee has partnered with Safe Humane for such an event, and the committee is hopeful that the partnership will continue.
Perhaps best of all, it is rumored that one or two attendees returned to the shelter after the event, and their visits may have led to an adoption or two. Paws crossed!
