Students

LAW 448 – Animal Law

2018 – S3 External

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Dr Jed Goodfellow
Contact via jed.goodfellow@mq.edu.au
W3A
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
3cp in LAW or LAWS units at 300 level
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is concerned with the role of the law in regulating our interactions with animals. This unit considers the important philosophical, ethical, legal and regulatory questions regarding the treatment of animals. How should animals be treated in modern-day society? Why are some animals afforded greater protections than others? How does one determine what is necessary and unnecessary harm in the treatment of animals? Should animals be conceptualised as personal property or afforded some or all of the protections available to legal persons under the law? Students will be exposed to a range of ideas that will inform their analysis of the contemporary animal welfare legislative framework. Regulatory arrangements will be examined and contrasted in relation to: companion animals; farm animals; animals used in commercial food (or other) production; wildlife, including protected species; and animals used in scientific experimentation, zoos and circuses. Significant international developments in animal law will be considered, and avenues for public interest litigation explored. Throughout the course, students will be presented with practical case-studies and a rich diversity of perspectives from a range of expert speakers. This unit is designed to be interactive and thought-provoking in which previous conceptions and assumptions regarding non-human animals are challenged.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify key legal principles in relation to regulation of the use of animals
  • Discuss the key theories and research on regulation of the use of animals
  • Review and critique literature on the regualtion of the use of animals
  • Identify legal issues and apply relevant leagl principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals
  • Display presentation and discussion skills in relation to animal law issues
  • Communicate and clearly present the results of research on animal law issues
  • Review and critique the ways in which values and ethical issues affect animal law and policy

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Presentation 30% No 2nd day of on-campus sessions
Multiple choice quiz 10% No 13-14 January 2019
Research Paper 60% No 21 January 2019

Presentation

Due: 2nd day of on-campus sessions
Weighting: 30%

This assessment requires students (in groups of three to four) to give a 20 minute presentation on a particular area of animal use that was not specifically addressed during the course. The presentations must outline the relevant regulatory framework and provide a critical assessment of the framework using theoretical concepts covered during the course. Presentations will be followed by 5 minutes of questions from the class. Students will be assessed on their presentation/communication skills, the quality of research undertaken, and their application of theory. 50% of allocated marks for this assessment will be attributed on a group basis while the other 50% will be attributed on an individual basis. Students will be assigned to groups before the commencement of the intensive session.

Any student who does not complete and participate in the Presentation will receive a zero mark for this assessment item.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify key legal principles in relation to regulation of the use of animals
  • Discuss the key theories and research on regulation of the use of animals
  • Review and critique literature on the regualtion of the use of animals
  • Identify legal issues and apply relevant leagl principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals
  • Display presentation and discussion skills in relation to animal law issues

Multiple choice quiz

Due: 13-14 January 2019
Weighting: 10%

This assessment consists of 20 multiple choice questions covering all 10 topics of the course content. Students will have 1 hour to complete the quiz. The quiz will be open for two days from 13-14 January 2019 on the Unit's iLearn space.  


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify key legal principles in relation to regulation of the use of animals
  • Identify legal issues and apply relevant leagl principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals

Research Paper

Due: 21 January 2019
Weighting: 60%

To fulfil the requirements of this assessment item, students must write a Research Paper in relation to one of several set questions. The set questions will be available on iLearn on 14 December 2018. The Research Paper must be a properly referenced formal response with appropriate analysis and argument supported by relevant authoritative cases and commentary. The research paper must be typed on A4 paper and must be kept to a maximum 2,500 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography). In completing their research paper, students must comply with the 3rd edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation, compiled by the Melbourne University Law Review. The Guide is available for download for free at:

https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1586203/FinalOnlinePDF-2012Reprint.pdf

Hard copies are available in the MQ Library at LAW REF KU48.A84.

The Research Paper must be submitted via Turnitin by 5 pm on Monday, 21 January 2019.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify key legal principles in relation to regulation of the use of animals
  • Discuss the key theories and research on regulation of the use of animals
  • Review and critique literature on the regualtion of the use of animals
  • Communicate and clearly present the results of research on animal law issues
  • Review and critique the ways in which values and ethical issues affect animal law and policy

Delivery and Resources

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

PRESCRIBED MATERIALS

1. P Sankoff, S White & C Black (eds) Animal Law in Australasia, 2nd ed, Federation Press, 2013

2. Macquarie Library E-Reserve

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. C Cao & S White, Animal Law and Welfare - International Perspectives, Springer, 2015  

2. M Bagaric & K Akers, Humanising Animals: Civilising People, CCH, 2012

3. A Bruce, Animal law in Australia, An Integrated Approach, 2nd ed, LexisNexis, 2018

4. J R Garrett (ed), The Ethics of Animal Research, Exploring the Controversy, The MIT Press, 2012 

5. P Sankoff & S White (eds), Animal Law in Australasia, 1st ed, Federation Press, 2009

6. D Cao, Animal law in Australia & New Zealand, 2nd ed, Thomson Reuters, 2015

7. Y Otomo & E Mussawir (eds) Law and the Question of the Animal: A Critical Jurisprudence, Routledge, 2013

8. M Radford, Animal Welfare Law in Britain: Regulation and Responsibility, Oxford University Press, 2001

9. C Sunstein & M Nussbaum, Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions, Oxford University Press, 2004

10. B A Wagman & M Liebman, A Worldview of Animal Law, Carolina Academic Press, 2011

11. Animal Law Review (available at HeinOnline)

12. Journal of Animal Law (available at HeinOnline)

13. Stanford Journal of Animal Law & Policy 

14. Journal of Animal Law & Ethics (available at HeinOnline)

15. Journal of Animal & Environmental Law (available at http://www.jael-online.org/)

16. Journal of Animal and Natural Resource Law (available at http://www.animallaw.info/)

17. Australian Animal Protection Law Journal (In library, & HeinOnline)

18. Animal Legal and Historical Center (http://www.animallaw.info/)

 

DELIVERY OF UNIT

This unit will be delivered via 10 online lectures covering each topic of the Unit followed by a two-day on-campus session consisting of tutorials and group related activities.

 

Unit Schedule

TOPICS STUDIED IN THIS UNIT

This unit will be delivered via 10 online lectures covering each topic of the Unit, followed by a two-day on-campus session consisting of tutorials and group related activities:

 Date

 Topics

 4 Dec

 Introduction to Animal Law

 4 Dec

 History: Philosophical Development, Origins of Property Status & First Animal Protection Laws

 5 Dec

 Contemporary Philosophical Thought and Animal Law Strategy

 11 Dec

 Principles of Animal Welfare Law and Regulation

 12 Dec

 Standard-setting and Enforcement of Animal Welfare Legislation

 13 Dec

 Regulation of the Treatment of Companion Animals

 18 Dec

 Regulation of the Treatment of Farm Animals

 19 Dec

 International Issues in Animal Law

 20 Dec

 Strategic Litigation – Animal Law in Practice

 21 Dec

 Animal Politics and Law Reform

 7-8 Jan

 Group 1 – on-campus sessions

 9-10 Jan

 Group 2 – on-campus sessions

 10-11 Jan 

 Group 3 – on-campus sessions

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Penalty for late submission

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key legal principles in relation to regulation of the use of animals
  • Discuss the key theories and research on regulation of the use of animals

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Multiple choice quiz
  • Research Paper

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discuss the key theories and research on regulation of the use of animals
  • Review and critique literature on the regualtion of the use of animals

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Multiple choice quiz
  • Research Paper

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Identify legal issues and apply relevant leagl principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Multiple choice quiz
  • Research Paper

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Display presentation and discussion skills in relation to animal law issues
  • Communicate and clearly present the results of research on animal law issues

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Research Paper

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Review and critique the ways in which values and ethical issues affect animal law and policy

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Research Paper

Changes from Previous Offering

Lectures will be delivered online rather than during week of on-campus sessions and a new assessment piece in the form of an online multiple choice quiz has been introduced.