The researchers were testing what was then a relatively new set of disease control methods: known as ventilation shutdown, the process kills the animals through heatstroke and suffocation, similar to dying in a hot car. C. 10002(o)(17) exempting records implicating certain security concerns. ]. hbbd```b``:"+ ,= D2`2,LNI7< H2Mh$&@"@qs ] The DDA states that it invoked the Privacy Act in response to this request, because the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly prepared these records and advised the DDA that it typically asserts the Privacy Act in response to similar requests. Delaware State Code The registration number with NYS Office of Court Administration (OCA) is #5620869. hb```f``*g`a`[ BL@Q;^]``- #(f`lddPb =I{CT SQ`=,AZ&q12\0 c In August, I left Animal Outlook after three years as Legal Counsel and decided it was time to pursue my own path. ~e\:Q"i(q\,Y=KO0TNlyag#l>8`G#ou_B'lK Consider what the world of media would look like without The Intercept. Sentient Media Podcast: The Power of Blindness With Kathy Stevens, Two Recent Court Cases Shift the Future of the Animal Rights Movement. However, the DDA fails to specifically address the applicability of the full scope of this privilege, including the three exceptions, to the requested records. Undercover Investigations Our brave investigators are shining a bright light on the hidden horrors forced upon billions of farmed animals. 1x$Ah5sS]**T"$IQDrCeHPe]ai$b.=WuiY6oz~zaq>"|[VE:{vWNcQZbE0;t\WYh`w^wbN|^ ~*iY`2AIob'"GIS. !06iW5we5Ve\6!oB=+\O/e/-r|-|P}dav This premier online publication offers in-depth and up-to-date coverage on Canadas most important animal law and policy issues. Join Animal Outlook's Legal Counsel Will Lowrey as he chats with Jane Velez-Mitchell about our latest investigation and most recent legal victories. The suffering of these hens is "extremely profound." -Attorney Will Lowrey, Animal Outlook Investigators found hens "literally roasted alive - still in their cages . Learn more, Home Animal Outlook is committed to respecting the privacy of its donors, whether the donation is made online, by mail, or any other method. Will Lowrey June 29, 2021 Animals, Investigations, Legal Advocacy 9 Comments, July 28, 2021 update: On July 28, 2021, Animal Outlook and our coalition partners achieved another courtroom victory for farmed animals. New documents obtained through federal and state public records requests reveal that, far from being an aberration, the meat industrys use of this gruesome method is still on the rise and its being abetted by government and organized veterinary medicine. [12] 24 Del. Previous experience includes stints with Dow Jones and Agence France Presse (AFP). Thank you for helping us create quality content! Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the DDA violated FOIA by failing to meet its burden of proof to justify its denial of access to the records requested in the first and second items of your request. Dec 08, 2021, 13:12 ET. Will Lowrey June 29, 2021 Animals, Investigations, . on about your day, ask yourself: How likely is it that the story you just read would have been produced by a different news outlet if The Intercept hadnt done it? The Vermont Supreme Court also named him Best Oralist at the Debevoise Moot Court Competitionan intramural competition the court judges every year. Thus, we determine that the DDA has not sufficiently supported its denial of access to the requested records under Section 10002(o)(6) to meet its burden. FOIA mandates that a public body provide citizens with reasonable access to public records for inspection and copying, but certain records and information are excluded from the definition of public record.[6] When a public body denies access to records, the public body has the burden of proof to justify its denial. By one count, more than 1,500 U.S. veterinarians, including Reyes-Illg, have urged theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association to reclassify VSD+ as not recommended. OPINION BY BOWES, J.: Animal Outlook ("AO") appeals from the order that dismissed its petition for review of the disapproval of the Franklin County District Attorney's Office ("DA") of multiple private criminal complaints. Hitts clients have included USDA food safety inspectors in ultra-high-speed slaughterhouses, contract poultry farmers faced with exploitative contracts and company retaliation, and animal researchers privy to taxpayer-funded waste and cruelty. The court dismissed Animal Outlooks complaint, concluding the District Attorney properly found there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Martin Farms. The experiments were funded by the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, a major industry trade group, and took place in the wake of the 2015 outbreak of an aggressive bird flu that resulted in the culling of about 50 million farmed birds not all of them necessarily infected across the United States. We appreciate the FDA's swift action . On this week's podcast I will be talking to Will Lowrey of Animal Outlook about a case that really has everyone in the animal law community talking. An employee in Martins office suggested contacting the university about the study, adding that in North Carolina we are using the foaming method to depopulate infected flocks for High Path Avian Influenza. Livingston was unreachable, and neither Anderson nor Berry responded to The Intercepts requests for comment, nor did NC States Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which approved the research. There's still plenty of start-up work left to do, but this past week, we launched three legal actions challenging a wide range of animal abuse in three separate states, including a public records lawsuit over animal research, a criminal complaint over cruelty to a lamb, and an administrative complaint over federal slaughter laws as applied to . Sophie Kevany has a Masters in Journalism from Dublin City University and an undergraduate degree in History of Art and Classical Civilisation from Trinity College Dublin. Animal Outlook is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. . of the law doesn't explicitly state that a president can't grant self-clemency from, VLS Alum Paves Way for Farmed Animal Protection and Future Animal Lawyers, International and Comparative Law Concentration, Tuholske Institute for Environmental Field Studies, International and Comparative Law Program, U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law, Courses for Credit for Non-Degree Students, Could Trump pardon himself before leaving office? Shop these birds, mired helplessly in disease-spreading squalor. Hitt is the founder and director of the. AVMA guidelines themselves arent legally binding, but they often become the basis for policy. The most important part of that opinion, he added, is its recognition that agricultural animals are protected from cruelty by law, that even common practices used in agriculture can be criminal and, that there are consequences for those who break those laws. [13] In its Response, the DDA asserts that the State veterinarians and USDA officials work with the farm owners to diagnose, and advise regarding treatment for avian influenza. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. Each year, our groundbreaking investigations reveal truth to consumers and spark change, our innovative legal advocacy brings justice for animals, and we inspire thousands to make compassionate choices. U.S. taxpayers pay for these killings through U.S. Department of To access opinions back to 1995, please visit the Archives. Animal Protein Market Outlook by 2030 - MarketWatch Will Lowrey - Animal Law Conference " The Co ur t's ruling s ends a clear mess age that animals us ed in agriculture are wor thy of protec tion." Erin Wing, Animal Outlook's deputy direc tor of investigations who documented the abus e while wor king Tom Cullen, the storys author, said he stands by his reporting and that hed spoken to local personnel and former company employees with knowledge of the method. The USDA financially compensates meat producers for these killings. Will also supports Animal Outlooks investigations work. It is published twice monthly as a collaborative effort with the University of Toronto Faculty of Laws research support. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. ir(#x~^ Lexis+. Veterinarians Oath to prevent and relieve animal suffering and In 2020, Iowa Select Farms, the states largest pork producer, killed healthy pigs, who could not be slaughtered for food due to Covid-induced slaughterhouse closures, by sealing off the airways and pumping in heat: a practice called ventilation shutdown plus. In a groundbreaking undercover investigation covered by The Intercept, the animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere revealed pigs screaming in distress for hours as they, essentially, roasted to death. Research footage obtained by Animal Outlook reveals how the practice was tested in 2016. Dear Mr. Lowrey: We write in response to your correspondence submitted on behalf of your client, Animal Outlook, alleging that the Delaware Department of Agriculture ("DDA") violated Delaware's Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del. Tax Center Atty Gen. 21-IB15, 2021 WL 3160273, at *6 (July 2, 2021) (We believe that the courts in Delaware would not define a public record under FOIA to include a working draft which the author is still revising prior to presentation to a public body, and . Amy also serves on the board of the Animal Welfare Trust and is a member of the HSUSs New York State Council. Since then, I've been working to start a new organization focused on . Will wore many hats as a law student. congrats!! buildings and shutting off the air supply. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Animal Outlook, a not-for-profit animal advocacy organization, unveiled a new video that takes viewers on an intimate journey . The tragedy here is that our current methods of raising birds for food production, in enormous sheds with millions of stressed, nearly genetically identical birds in close proximity to one another, has resulted in a situation where outbreaks of diseases like HPAI are nearly inevitable and few options exist for humanely killing infected birds, Reyes-Illg, the Animal Welfare Institute veterinary adviser, wrote to The Intercept. Will Lowrey, Richmond, VA, for appellant. We can quibble about degrees of suffering, she said. . Transparency Animal Outlook released a showing some of these abuses, including instances where employees restrained thrashing calves to burn off their horns without providing any pain relief. Learn more about Animal Outlook articles here. Will Lowrey is Legal Counsel for Animal Outlook and divides his time between undercover investigations and civil litigation. Approximately 30 percent of your donation goes directly to outreach and education. To search, please click the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner and enter your search terms to the left. Im perpetually thankful for a bunch of people who gave their time, input, advice, and encouragement in support of the idea that this world shouldnt be such an awful place for animals. The sheriffs decision in California, the no [to prosecution], was a far more significant impediment, said Lowrey. Overall, Will excelled during his time at VLS and continues to excel in his work to protect farmed animals. We treat your correspondence as a Petition for a determination pursuant to 29 Del. Gross Receipts Tax Ag-Gag Laws: What Are They and Which States Still Have Them? Will also supports Animal Outlooks Investigations department in managing risk and seeking criminal prosecution for cruelty and neglect. endstream endobj 102 0 obj <>stream Animal Outlooks attempts to prosecute a similar cruelty case at the Californian Dick Van Dam dairy remains stalled after the local sheriffs department declined to recommend criminal charges. They Shut Their Ears to Her Cries as She Died a Merciless Death William Craig Lowrey is an attorney admitted to practice in New York State in 2018. Will Lowrey - Greater Richmond Region | Professional Profile - LinkedIn Will Lowrey's Instagram, Twitter & Facebook on IDCrawl Wishing you all the best with your new venture! @5Hsq!c wqtCBLZ@rrtqx,k-$X#Y9\Gdx43)r i9@m_JUMC;&4pbJXk3nm alaska regional hospital ceo; where is nancy van camp now; will lowrey animal outlook Born in Milan, Italy, Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni is an award-winning entrepreneur, activist, investor, and advisor to businesses and governments around the world. While the depopulation methods we investigated are not painless, neither are poultry diseases such as avian influenza that has recently infected many farms in NC. We dont have ads, so we depend on our members 35,000 and counting to help us hold the powerful to account. Practical Guidance Animal Outlook Law Firm | LexisNexis Weather & Travel, Contact Us Photo of UPC sanctuary hens by Davida G. Breier. These are birds in extreme distress, said Sherstin Rosenberg, a veterinarian who has cared for thousands of chickens and other poultry birds at an animal sanctuary in California, after reviewing the NC State footage. Of course, CO2 would be faster but we might have supply issues in the event of a large scale outbreak. HVN1}_ivE]!@KQv%P$! William Craig Lowrey Animal Outlook Po Box 9773, Washington, DC By . The DDA Chief of Community Relations attests that [f]arm owners may be indemnified by the USDA for the value of their losses if they were not found to be negligent in addressing the outbreak and minimizing spread.[4] She further attests that State veterinarians provide advice to the farm owners regarding the method to depopulate, which is reflected in the Appraisal and Indemnity Request Form, completed jointly by the State veterinarian and the USDA or state case manager, and premises owner, and details the depopulation method and the operational reasons for selecting the method. Will continues to wear many hats, one being a valuable mentor to Animal Outlook interns. Will generously makes himself available to advise VLS animal law students, and to support VLSs new Animal Law and Policy Institute. https://lnkd.in/em5eDiE3, We are proud to collaborate withThe Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy for the relaunch of its National Animal Law Competitions, returning March 18-19, 2023, atHarvard Law School. View Completed EO 12866 Meeting - reginfo.gov Animal Outlook - Our own Will Lowrey and Cheryl Leahy | Facebook /s/ Alexander S. Mackler Thanks in part to the NC State researchers work, the use of ventilation shutdown at U.S. factory farms is increasing in several states. Corporate Outreach Working with various international corporations, were successfully pushing for change to reduce suffering, eliminate animal ingredients, and mainstream the availability of plant-based options. [14] The DDA has not indicated whether this form meets this standard, so we cannot determine that this exception applies to the Appraisal and Indemnity Form in the DDAs possession. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? Submitted via email to HouseJudiciary@rilegislature.gov Hearing Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Time & Location: 6:00pm, Room 35 - State House To: Members of the House Judiciary Committee Submitted by: Will Lowrey, Legal Counsel, Animal Outlook, 804-307-4102 RE: Testimony in strong support of H 5731: Prohibiting the sale of force-fed poultry products will lowrey animal outlookfriday health plans ratings. In sum, we find that the DDA violated FOIA by failing to satisfy its burden of demonstrating the denial of access to the requested records is justified under FOIA. Our mission: Were strategically challenging animal agribusiness through undercover investigations, legal advocacy, corporate and food system reform, and disseminating information about the many harms of animal agriculture, empowering everyone to choose vegan. Will Lowrey on LinkedIn: In August, I left Animal Outlook after three Before law school, Will worked a lengthy corporate career and in his free time, helped run several non-profits focused on a variety of animal issues. h&dX/u ZL F!2&P1L8= On April 19, 2022, the DDA, through its counsel, replied to your Petition (Response) and included the affidavit of the Chief of Community Relations, who serves as the FOIA coordinator. However unpleasant, it should be a primary goal that depopulation (euthanasia) methods strive to meet these standards within the context of the extreme need scale in which VSD would be used.. This Petition followed, alleging that the DDA violated FOIA by denying access to the records requested in the first and second items. . Bowes observed the lower court improperly hand-picked few of the alleged instances of abuse in reviewing the evidence. In Minnesota, more than 1.7 million birds, mostly turkeys, have been or will soon be depopulated since the states first avian flu case on March 25, with an increasing number killed using VSD+ compared to the 2015 bird flu, according to state veterinarian Beth Thompson. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation ; Jurisdictions . VSD+ CO2 is theoretical and not yet practical.. This month, the appellate court reversed the lower courts decision and ordered the lower court to direct the District Attorney to prosecute Martin Farms. Phone: 800-248-2862 JzJ {N,[7mv{ Welv :b f0u5c(+qRn\;)tmV5+mnN0iJ!IgEF[I}GHa 5w5$+*/fvW++ Thats all it takes to support the journalism you rely on. from UCLA School of Law and a B.A. This is at odds with the AVMAs standards, which state that VSD+ is permitted in constrained circumstances only when applied in a manner that will produce a 100% mortality rate., Whatever the kill method used, factory farm conditions make it exceedingly difficult to carry out depopulations with full mortality, Rosenberg said. State Agencies In addition to litigating whistleblowers cases, Hitt and her team workto draw public attention to these whistleblowers stories and to turn their revelations into food system and legal reforms. (Picture of Skittles, a resident of Porchlight Animal Sanctuary in Virginia, just for good measure). But a good deal of it consisted of the way Martin Farms conducted its business, such as the horrendous suffering inflicted upon calves in the dehorning process. premature disclosure of draft contracts under negotiation also could compromise the public bodys (and the publics) competitive position in those negotiations.) (citation omitted). In less than three months since we began, we've filed criminal complaints against three slaughterhouses, asked the USDA to investigate a fourth for violating federal law, sued a university conducting cruel animal research, obtained public records of cruel animal experiments, and helped train law students, attorneys, and activists to use the law on behalf of animals. [2] You contend that the Privacy Act does not cover the requested records because this Act only covers federal, not state, agencies and the type of records you seek are not covered by the definition of record under the Privacy Act. Todd A. R. Mays, Wyomissing, for appellant. and Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy student at Vermont Law School. Hitts clients have included USDA food safety inspectors in ultra-high-speed slaughterhouses, contract poultry farmers faced with exploitative contracts and company retaliation, and animal researchers privy to taxpayer-funded waste and cruelty. [9] The DDA contends that any veterinarian communications regarding the diagnosis or treatment of an animal in these records was properly withheld under the statutory privilege for veterinary advice. Animal Outlook is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal advocacy organization based in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA. Social Media, Built by the Government Information Center This Office has previously determined that the working draft exception applies to draft documents that a public body is still revising prior to presentation to a public body. I wish there were less painful options.. She is licensed to practice law in California and Hawaii, and lives in Los Angeles with her family and two rescue dogs. Anything can happen, and an investigator has to be prepared to be on their toes, ready to document whatever might be happening to the animals in any given situation., The work, she said, can take weeks or months and is emotionally, physically and mentally taxing. Wing said her worst memory was how calves would bellow and buck against restraints during the [horn burning] process because they felt every bit of the pain.

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