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Mission
To help clients hold to account not only people who break animal protection law but also governments and other bodies charged with enforcing it.
Vision
To live in a world where animals are protected by philosophically consistent laws which are regulated and enforced effectively.
The UK's First Animal Law Firm
About Us
Advocates for Animals is the first UK law firm dedicated to animal protection. We launched in March 2019 after years of recognising that the law was incredibly under utilised in this area.
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We are a not for profit and work with animal groups, activists and individuals on a wide variety of legal areas and have helped enforce and further animal protection law. You can find more about our services here.
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From fruition, Advocates for Animals has also been blessed with a committed team that goes above and beyond every day to help our clients and animals. A combination of good timing, unparalleled expertise, and unrelenting passion for animal protection, has ensured that Advocates for Animals has been established as the leading firm for anyone who needs specialist legal assistance to protect animals.
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A message from our Managing Director
Edie Bowles
It has been a privilege leading the incredible team at Advocates for Animals and together turning the idea of an animal law firm into a dynamic practice offering a range of services for our incredible clients. From established animal groups to lone activists, we have all been truly humbled by the great work each of our clients do to protect animals. Without their work, commitment and continuing support, Advocates for Animals would not exist. It is an honour to be able to assist them with legal tools to further their objectives and help animals in need. Everything we do at Advocates for Animals is to help animals and ensure their legal protections are enforced. After all, why should animals go without legal representation or have the laws that are designed to protect them go unenforced?
A short history of animal cruelty
Before 1822 in this country – as in many countries around the world still – there was no law to protect animals. A man could beat his horse to death simply because it was his. The supervening two centuries have seen a large swathe of animal protection legislation, some of it very good.
But there is indisputably far more cruelty caused to animals by human beings today than two hundred years ago. Attitudes are generally more enlightened, and there is less domestic cruelty, but technological developments mean that we can do things to animals today that we could not hitherto – in factory farms (where literally billions languish), in laboratories and so forth, far from public gaze. Millions of animals are transported as cargo across the world for various purposes. It is therefore essential that animal protection NGOs make maximum use of the tools at their disposal, as environmental groups and many social justice organisations already do very effectively.
Advocates for Animals is committed to the creative use of the law – alongside investigations, science, lobbying, social and traditional media – to make a huge difference to the lives of animals. Advocates for Animals was co-founded by Edie Bowles and David Thomas in 2019. Advocates for Animals will not act against an animal group or an animal activist unless the matter involves an animal protection issue.