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Two smiling women sit on a courtroom floor with a smiling dog.

Prosecutors Jessica Rock, right, and K.C. Pagnotta pose with Baby Shark — who was rescued from the alleged dogfighting operation as a puppy in 2022 — at the sentencing last week. Jessica Rock hide caption

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Jessica Rock

National

A man was sentenced to 475 years for dogfighting. The sport is surprisingly prevalent

February 4, 2025 • A man who was arrested with over 100 dogs and equipment at his Georgia home got the maximum sentence last week. Prosecutors hope it sheds light on the prevalence of dogfighting, a felony in the U.S.

U.K. soccer player Kurt Zouma is under fire after a video showed him abusing cats

Kurt Zouma of West Ham United reacts during the Premier League match with Watford at London Stadium on Tuesday. Zouma has apologized after a video showed him abusing cats. Marc Atkins/Getty Images hide caption

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Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Sports

U.K. soccer player Kurt Zouma is under fire after a video showed him abusing cats

February 9, 2022 • The West Ham United player has been fined for his actions and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has launched an investigation into the matter.

Animal Cruelty As A Federal Crime: Trump Is Expected To Sign Bill Passed By Congress

Congress has approved the first law making severe animal abuse a federal crime, in a move that Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., calls "a milestone for pet owners and animal lovers across the country." Getty Images/Image Source hide caption

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Getty Images/Image Source

Law

Animal Cruelty As A Federal Crime: Trump Is Expected To Sign Bill Passed By Congress

November 7, 2019 • The PACT Act would be the first national law making severe animal cruelty and torture illegal. An earlier law only banned videos of such acts.

In A First, Connecticut's Animals Get Advocates In The Courtroom

University of Connecticut law professor Jessica Rubin, left, and law student Taylor Hansen present arguments as animal advocates in a dogfighting case in Hartford on Tuesday. Connecticut is the first state to allow court-appointed advocates to represent animals in cruelty and abuse cases. Pat Eaton-Robb/AP hide caption

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Pat Eaton-Robb/AP

The Two-Way

In A First, Connecticut's Animals Get Advocates In The Courtroom

June 2, 2017 • The state's legal advocates are one sign of the emerging field of animal law. In 2000, nine law schools had courses in animal law; by 2015, that number was 151.