The Humane Rescue Alliance, Animal Law Committee of the DC Bar, and DC Voters for Animals are joining together to cohost this important community conversation about some of the most pressing issues in DC animal law, including background on the relevant legal and regulatory framework as well as discussion of compliance and enforcement trends. The panel will include a particular emphasis on the intersection between DC animal law, gentrification, and the impacts on and role of DC’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.
The panelists and topics to be covered are:
- Kerry Contini, Partner, Baker McKenzie
Founding Member, DC Voters for Animals
- Abby Volin, President, Opening Doors
Animals in DC public housing - legal and regulatory framework, US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirement that public housing authorities allow residents to keep pets, current DC Housing Authority (DCHA) prohibition of pets in DCHA properties, interplay with housing instability and public health outcomes, possible paths forward
- Claudia Barragan, Urban Planner and Legislative Policy Analyst
Elected neighborhood commissioner (ANC5A06) and former Legislative Staff for Councilmember, Trayon White Sr. Cmte. Recreation and Youth Affair
Deeper dive into compliance and inequitable impact of DC legal/regulatory issues related to animals in the district's public housing, health, and environmental services; intersection between animal welfare policy, gentrification, and DC’s BIPOC communities
- Chris Schindler, Vice President of Field Services, Humane Rescue Alliance
DC Animal Cruelty Code, with particular emphasis on dogfighting, most common types of dogfighting violations, enforcement trends, communities impacted by dogfighting
- Kelly Whittier, Senior Legislative Aide, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Ward 3
Recent and Pending Legislation, including recent ivory ban, pending omnibus bill, and pending ADA-related bill