Prosecuting and Representing Animal Abusers and …

   Prosecuting and Representing Animal Abusers and
                Caring for the Victims -
 The Michael Vick Case and Its Impact on Cruelty Cases
 Presented by the American Bar Association's Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section's Animal Law Committee,
      Trial Techniques Committee, the ABA Criminal Law Section & the National Canine Research Council


                    Friday, September 19, 2008                                                       Program Sponsors:
                                                                                                     Valparaiso University School of Law; Animal Farm Foundation;
                  DePaul University College of Law                                                   National Canine Research Council; Best Friends Animal Society,
                                                                                                     exclusive national sponsor of Safe Humane Chicago; Animal Welfare
                                       8:00 am - 5:00 pm
                                                                                                     Institute; PetSmart Charities; and DePaul University College of Law
                      Conference Room of the DePaul Center , Room 8005
                                  1 E. Jackson Boulevard                                             Program Chair:
                                        Chicago, IL                                                  Ledy VanKavage, ASPCA, Maryville, IL

                                                                                                     Co-Chairs:
Program Description:
                                                                                                     Amy Maher, Madison County State's Attorney's Office,
The federal dog fighting case against Michael Vick and his codefendants dominated                    Edwardsville, IL
the press for weeks and generated overwhelming public concern for the dogs seized                    K. Michelle Welch, Assistant Attorney General's Office,
from Bad Newz Kennels. This program will feature the forensic veterinarian, an                       Richmond, VA
Assistant U.S. Attorney, a criminal defense attorney, and the court appointed special
master/guardian in the case. The proceedings of the federal case will be discussed                   Presenters:
and its impact on future cruelty cases.                                                              Francis Battista, Best Friends Animal Society, Kanab, UT
                                                                                                     Claire Cardwell, Stone & Cardwell, Richmond, VA
Forty-eight of the forty-nine American Pit Bull Terriers seized in the dog fighting case             Jennifer Cifaldi, Assistant State's Attorney, Adams
were deemed suitable for adoption or sanctuary placement. Some have already been                     County, Quincy, IL
adopted out. The challenges of assessing, caring for and adopting out the canine victims             Cynthia Bathurst, Principal Director, Safe Humane Chicago,
of dog fighting will be discussed by the team leader of the behavioral team, the major               Chicago, IL
rescue group and animal sanctuary associated with the Vick case.                                     Professor Rebecca Huss, Valparaiso University School of Law,
                                                                                                     Valparaiso, IN
Other law enforcement professionals and prosecutors who have successfully investigated               Amy Maher, Madison County State's Attorney's Office,
or prosecuted cruelty cases and animal hoarding cases will also share their tips. Success-           Edwardsville, IL
ful court advocacy programs for animal cruelty cases will be discussed.                              Dr. Melinda Merck, ASPCA, Atlanta, GA
                                                                                                     Tim Racer, Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls
                                                                                                     (BAD RAP), San Francisco, CA
Scholarships Available:                                                                              Dr. Pam Reid, ASPCA, Urbana, IL
                                                                                                     Donna Reynolds, Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit
To honor the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for its            Bulls (BAD RAP), San Francisco, CA
work in the matter of United States of America v Michael Vick et al (Criminal No.                    K. Michelle Welch, Assistant Attorney General's Office,
3:07CR274), Animal Farm Foundation is pleased to offer five scholarships to this                     Richmond, VA
program. For more information, and to find out if you qualify, please contact Debra                  Brian Whisler, U. S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District
Dotson at (312) 988-5597.                                                                            of Virginia, Richmond, VA



 To Register, make checks payable to: ABA-TIPS, and mail to the American Bar Association, Debra Dotson, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610 or fax this form
 with credit card info to: 312-988-6230. Registration fees: $75.00 for ABA members, $100.00 for non-members. Law Students are free, but are required to register.
 Registration Deadline: September 5, 2008.

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                             To register for this program online, please visit:
                           https://www.abanet.org/tips/animalabusersreg.html