This course will introduce students to the broad range of laws that affect non-human animals, including companion animals, farm animals (with a particular focus on factory farming and its significant role in climate change), animals used in the context of entertainment (such as zoos and aquaria), animals used in scientific experimentation, and wild animals. We will focus on the U.S. with significant attention to the laws of other countries and to cultural and religious beliefs. The course will also engage with fundamental questions about animals and the law, such as: Are some animals more deserving of protection than others, and, if so, on what basis? Does the status of animals as property pose an insurmountable barrier to increasing protections for animals? What is the difference between “animal rights” and “animal welfare” and does one chart a better path forward for animals?