animawiki

Montréal, Canada

https://devineanimallaw.ca
https://twitter.com/AlannaKDevine

Devine Animal Law specializes in furthering the interests of animals through the legal system. We seek to advance the rights and well-being of animals and those who care for them. We serve a clientele within Quebec and Ontario, across Canada, and from jurisdictions across the world.

Alanna Devine has over 15 years of experience in animal law and advocacy, and is deeply committed to reducing the suffering of all animals through her work. Alanna completed her undergraduate degree in Criminology at the University of Toronto and obtained degrees in Civil and Common Law at McGill University’s Faculty of Law, before clerking for the Honorable Justice Louise Charron at the Supreme Court of Canada. She has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 2007, and will be a member of the Barreau du Québec as of November 2020.

Ms. Devine spent a decade of her career as the Director of Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA, where she oversaw and modernized the organization’s cruelty investigations department, and led numerous strategic campaigns that resulted in significant legislative victories for animals, such as the adoption of Bill 51, An Act to amend the Animal Health Protection Act mainly in regard to animal safety and welfare and Bill 54, An Act to improve the legal situation of animals. Ms. Devine was also the driving force behind numerous municipal victories for animals, including a by-law requiring Montreal pet stores to adopt out dogs, cats and rabbits, rather than sourcing them from breeding facilities, and the overturning of discriminatory breed specific legislation in the City of Montreal. She then worked as the Director of Mercy for Animals in Canada, and as a policy Advisor to the mayor and Executive Committee at the City of Montreal, before opening her own practice in animal law. Ms. Devine also teaches animal law at McGill University’s Faculty of Law, and gives conferences and lectures across Canada to other legal professionals, law students and the general public about animal law and advocacy issues.