Date & Time: Monday, October 6, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Webinar Fee: $65
Online Only
A focused overview of animal law in Massachusetts, highlighting how attorneys and courts address complex legal issues involving animals across civil, criminal, housing, probate, family, municipal, and legislative contexts. Panelists will explore both transactional tools—such as pet trusts, protective orders, and divorce agreements—and adversarial proceedings, including pet custody disputes, dangerous dog hearings, housing court challenges, and animal cruelty cases. The session explores the growing legal recognition of animals as sentient property, while also addressing key case law, practical strategies, and legislative developments.
Faculty
Casey L. Cochran, Esq., Law Office of Casey L. Cochran, LLC
Liza M. Connelly, Esq., Director of Trust & Estate Services for CIBC Private Wealth Management
Jeremy M. Cohen, Esq., Boston Dog Lawyers, P.C.
Kara L. Holmquist, Esq., Director of Advocacy for the MSPCA
Lynsey M. Legier, Esq., Staff Attorney for the Animal Protection Division of the MSPCA
Criminal Law: Litigating Animal Cruelty Cases & Protecting People and Pets
- Courtroom advocacy in animal cruelty cases, examining prosecution and defense strategies from investigation and arraignment through key motions practice—including suppression, return of property, and petitions for costs of care for seized animals—to trial and sentencing.
- Ethical and procedural challenges of prolonged evidentiary custody of live animals.
- Navigating the legal tension between a defendant’s property rights and the need to preserve live animal evidence for expert examination and trial.
- Recognizing and understanding the link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence (ex. “coercive control”).
- Legal considerations in divorce, separation, and probate matters involving animals.
- How courts are resolving pet custody and ownership disputes.
- Inclusion of pets in 209As.
- The evolution of pet trusts from unenforceable under common law to enforceable by state statute.
- Estate planning techniques to provide for the care of companion animals during the pet owner’s life, incapacity and death.
Civil & Municipal Law: Navigating Municipal Actions and Civil Disputes Involving Animals
- Dangerous dog hearings and related municipal proceedings.
- Disputes over pet custody in civil contexts.
- Housing issues involving assistance animals and reasonable accommodations.
- Litigation arising from dog bites and related injuries.
Legislative Policy: Shaping the Future of Animal Law
- Overview of recent and pending legislation affecting animal welfare.
The views and opinions expressed in programs offered by the Social Law Library are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Library. Online registration is encouraged. For assistance, questions on group discounts, accommodations requests, special billing, program content, out-of-state CLE credits, and general contact CLE Coordinator, Michael Saporito by email at msaporito@socialaw.com. Registrations accepted in order of receipt. Registration fees are non-refundable. Most Social Law Library CLE events are recorded and recordings are sent to all who are registered. The recording is available by digital download, generally within a week after the program date. CLE credit, when applicable, is only granted when 80 % of the live webinar is attended. To insure getting the video, please register.