Lazare on a mission to save, protect animals
There are many individuals involved in animal advocacy, both on the frontlines and behind the scenes. Both groups are equally crucial to championing efforts to protect animals, whether the animals are domesticated or farmed. One fearless woman has made it her mission to protect both animal groups. Her name is Jodi Lazare.
Lazare is an assistant professor at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S. She teaches family, constitutional and animal law. She holds degrees in both civil and common law from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Laws and Doctor of Civil Law from McGill University. Lazare and her husband own two young rescue cats, June and Bug. They also own an exuberant rescue dog named Rumple, who landed on their doorstep as a foster, but in the end became their beloved foster-fail.
When speaking with Lazare, you find her humble, modest and straightforward. Before pursuing her law career, she completed a diploma in journalism. She openly admits to loving animals since she was a child and confessed she always attempted to write about animals during her career as a journalist.
On March 23, 2018, the Globe and Mail published an article Lazare brilliantly co-wrote about pets classified as property under Canadian law and what happens to these animals during divorce:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-what-the-law-doesnt-understand-my-dog-is-not-a-couch/
Lazare firmly believes we should be emptying the cages at shelters before buying designer dogs or the popular breed of the day. She supports animal rescue organizations and their efforts to save homeless pets, but her actions do not stop at domesticated animals; she is deeply committed to educating people about factory farming.
In November 2020, the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law invited her to be the keynote speaker for the Animal Rights Law: Talking Animals, Law and Philosophy series regarding the new Agricultural-Gag (Ag-Gag) laws in Canada. Ag-Gag unduly limits free speech as a means to insulate corporate agriculture from scrutiny and public criticism. Her presentation is here:
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjX-8G14aDtAhVLmlkKHZ5zB9s4ChC3AjABegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Df0DchEupyb8&usg=AOvVaw2d4EC3pOHyrb34gz43XUO4
On July 16, 2019, Lazare published an article on Bill A-203, which prohibits keeping, breeding, and importing marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises for entertainment or any other reason except rescue rehabilitation. “As a professor of animal law, I was delighted to see this bill become law, but I am also aware that Canadian law relating to non-human animals is not progressive enough.” said Lazare. You can read her paper on this site:
https://www.dal.ca/news/2019/07/16/-free-willy--law-spotlights-contradictions-in-how-canadians-see-.html
Lazare is unstoppable when it comes to saving and protecting animals in Canada. Our country is fortunate to have such an educated, passionate, well-spoken woman like Lazare, who has devoted much of her career and expertise to helping animals.
Please be kind to animals.