By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
When Ann Griffin read Anna Sewell’s famous book “Black Beauty’ in childhood, she realized not all animals have a good life and none have a voice.
“That message really resonated with me,” says Griffin, who serves as Director of Advocacy for Michigan Humane.
After earning her undergrad degree from Wayne State University, Griffin obtained her J.D. from Detroit Mercy Law, then joined Dykema’s Detroit office. Two years later, she returned to UDM Law, where she held teaching and administrative positions over a 16-year period.
“I was drawn to the intellectual challenge of studying law and knew it would be beneficial in teaching me how to think and problem solve, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to use my education,” she says. “It was later in my career after practicing for a couple of years and teaching and serving in administrative roles at my alma mater law school that I went to a seminar hosted by the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section. That was a ‘light bulb’ moment for me, and I knew I had to find a way to use my education and experience to speak for animals.”
Griffin developed UDM Law’s first Animal Law class in fall 2011, and taught the class each fall through 2015.
“It was fun to watch students start the semester asking, ‘What on earth is animal law?’ – having signed up for the seminar because it fulfilled a capstone writing requirement for graduation and was one of the only seminars offered in the evening—to taking on a research project and becoming passionate about the intersection of the law and nonhuman animal,” she says.
A member of the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section Council and chair of the Section’s Legislative Committee, Griffin has served as Director of Advocacy since January 2015. She is primarily responsible for legislative advocacy, which entails identifying pending legislation of interest to the organization, developing a recommendation for leadership on the position Michigan Humane should take, and tracking and engaging on the bills in accordance with Michigan’s position.
“I also have the opportunity to improve animal welfare and protection statutes by identifying areas of needed improvement, drafting a new bill or amendment to address the issue, and working to get it introduced and passed.
Michigan Humane is one of the few organizations in Michigan to engage in legislative advocacy at this level,” she says.
“I enjoy the intellectual challenge, the chance to have a real and lasting impact on animal welfare, and the opportunity to work with like-minded advocates in the legislature and in the animal welfare industry to achieve our shared goals.”
Michigan Humane is working with a small group of stakeholders, including Bee Friedlander from Attorneys for Animals, Jim Freemon from C.H.A.I.N.E.D., and MSU College of Law Professor David Favre to revise Michigan’s sentencing guidelines so more appropriate sentences are given in cases of felony animal cruelty against companion animals.
“There is a strong connection between violence against animals and violence against humans—referred to as the Link,” Griffin says. “Enforcement of Michigan’s anti-cruelty statute, including imposing meaningful sentences when defendants are found guilty of felony animal cruelty, is critical to the value of our animal protection laws, community safety for both humans and animals, and the administration of justice.
“In addition to protecting animals, who have no voice, for animals’ sake, animal welfare is a significant indicator of and contributor to the overall quality of life for both people and animals. Strong laws to protect animal welfare that are effectively enforced benefit animals and also educate the public regarding the humane treatment of animals, which can increase their compassion and empathy for all living things—humans and animals.”
Michigan Humane is tackling, on every level, the complex problem of puppy mills.
“The root of the problem is the weak animal care standards for commercial breeders—the source of most puppies found in pet stores—in the federal Animal Welfare Act and the USDA’s lax enforcement of even those low standards, “she says. “Michigan Humane is working with the ASPCA to support Goldie’s Act, a federal statute that would strengthen AWA enforcement. Michigan Humane was instrumental in passing Michigan law regulating large-scale dog breeders in the state, and we’ve supported a bill in prior sessions that would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in Michigan pet stores. We pushed back against bills that would have made it easier for pet stores to sell commercially-bred—puppy mill—animals, and those bills were ultimately vetoed by then-Governor Snyder.
“We’ve also worked with Humane World for Animals (formerly HSUS) to support ordinances in Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores, and Detroit to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in those communities.”
Another challenging issue is breed-specific legislation (BSL), and why this is ineffective, according to Griffin.
“It goes back to the old saying you can’t judge a book by its cover,” Griffin says. “Not only can you not be sure of a dog’s breed based on its appearance, but even if you were sure of a dog’s breed, you can’t use breed to predict that dog’s behavior. BSL is expensive to enforce, and it does not improve public safety. Public safety would be better served by enforcement of existing dangerous dog laws and laws focused on responsible pet ownership, such as leash laws.”
Griffin also cherishes fond memories of her previous “heart dog” Rudy, and their strong human-animal bond as a TDI-certified therapy team, visiting nursing homes.
“He was so intuitive about knowing what people needed, and I saw how much his visits brightened the patients’ days,” she says.
Legal News
When Ann Griffin read Anna Sewell’s famous book “Black Beauty’ in childhood, she realized not all animals have a good life and none have a voice.
“That message really resonated with me,” says Griffin, who serves as Director of Advocacy for Michigan Humane.
After earning her undergrad degree from Wayne State University, Griffin obtained her J.D. from Detroit Mercy Law, then joined Dykema’s Detroit office. Two years later, she returned to UDM Law, where she held teaching and administrative positions over a 16-year period.
“I was drawn to the intellectual challenge of studying law and knew it would be beneficial in teaching me how to think and problem solve, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to use my education,” she says. “It was later in my career after practicing for a couple of years and teaching and serving in administrative roles at my alma mater law school that I went to a seminar hosted by the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section. That was a ‘light bulb’ moment for me, and I knew I had to find a way to use my education and experience to speak for animals.”
Griffin developed UDM Law’s first Animal Law class in fall 2011, and taught the class each fall through 2015.
“It was fun to watch students start the semester asking, ‘What on earth is animal law?’ – having signed up for the seminar because it fulfilled a capstone writing requirement for graduation and was one of the only seminars offered in the evening—to taking on a research project and becoming passionate about the intersection of the law and nonhuman animal,” she says.
A member of the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section Council and chair of the Section’s Legislative Committee, Griffin has served as Director of Advocacy since January 2015. She is primarily responsible for legislative advocacy, which entails identifying pending legislation of interest to the organization, developing a recommendation for leadership on the position Michigan Humane should take, and tracking and engaging on the bills in accordance with Michigan’s position.
“I also have the opportunity to improve animal welfare and protection statutes by identifying areas of needed improvement, drafting a new bill or amendment to address the issue, and working to get it introduced and passed.
Michigan Humane is one of the few organizations in Michigan to engage in legislative advocacy at this level,” she says.
“I enjoy the intellectual challenge, the chance to have a real and lasting impact on animal welfare, and the opportunity to work with like-minded advocates in the legislature and in the animal welfare industry to achieve our shared goals.”
Michigan Humane is working with a small group of stakeholders, including Bee Friedlander from Attorneys for Animals, Jim Freemon from C.H.A.I.N.E.D., and MSU College of Law Professor David Favre to revise Michigan’s sentencing guidelines so more appropriate sentences are given in cases of felony animal cruelty against companion animals.
“There is a strong connection between violence against animals and violence against humans—referred to as the Link,” Griffin says. “Enforcement of Michigan’s anti-cruelty statute, including imposing meaningful sentences when defendants are found guilty of felony animal cruelty, is critical to the value of our animal protection laws, community safety for both humans and animals, and the administration of justice.
“In addition to protecting animals, who have no voice, for animals’ sake, animal welfare is a significant indicator of and contributor to the overall quality of life for both people and animals. Strong laws to protect animal welfare that are effectively enforced benefit animals and also educate the public regarding the humane treatment of animals, which can increase their compassion and empathy for all living things—humans and animals.”
Michigan Humane is tackling, on every level, the complex problem of puppy mills.
“The root of the problem is the weak animal care standards for commercial breeders—the source of most puppies found in pet stores—in the federal Animal Welfare Act and the USDA’s lax enforcement of even those low standards, “she says. “Michigan Humane is working with the ASPCA to support Goldie’s Act, a federal statute that would strengthen AWA enforcement. Michigan Humane was instrumental in passing Michigan law regulating large-scale dog breeders in the state, and we’ve supported a bill in prior sessions that would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in Michigan pet stores. We pushed back against bills that would have made it easier for pet stores to sell commercially-bred—puppy mill—animals, and those bills were ultimately vetoed by then-Governor Snyder.
“We’ve also worked with Humane World for Animals (formerly HSUS) to support ordinances in Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores, and Detroit to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in those communities.”
Another challenging issue is breed-specific legislation (BSL), and why this is ineffective, according to Griffin.
“It goes back to the old saying you can’t judge a book by its cover,” Griffin says. “Not only can you not be sure of a dog’s breed based on its appearance, but even if you were sure of a dog’s breed, you can’t use breed to predict that dog’s behavior. BSL is expensive to enforce, and it does not improve public safety. Public safety would be better served by enforcement of existing dangerous dog laws and laws focused on responsible pet ownership, such as leash laws.”
Griffin also cherishes fond memories of her previous “heart dog” Rudy, and their strong human-animal bond as a TDI-certified therapy team, visiting nursing homes.
“He was so intuitive about knowing what people needed, and I saw how much his visits brightened the patients’ days,” she says.
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