Joyce Tischler (vegan): A Trailblazer for Animal-People Law, Part 1 of 2

Often referred to as the “Mother of Animal Law,” Professor Tischler is internationally recognized for her trailblazing work in launching the field of animal-people law. She is the co-founder and general counsel of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a recipient of the Shining World Defense Award for being the first organization in the USA dedicated to championing the lives and rights of animal-people through the legal system. In today’s program, we learn how Professor Tischler first became involved in defending animal-people.

“As far back as I can remember, I had a special feeling about animals. I saw their intelligence. I saw that they had emotions very much like we do. 1975 was when “Animal Liberation” by Peter Singer, the Australian philosopher, was published. And that was the year that I stopped eating meat.”

Using this small group as a base, Professor Tischler and Mr. Kessenick co-founded the Attorneys for Animal Rights, later renamed the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) in 1979. True to her words, Professor Tischler left the law firm in 1981 and began working full-time at ALDF.

In the beginning, Professor Tischler personally handled many of the ALDF lawsuits. She thought it would be easy to persuade judges that the animal-people she was defending must be protected. However, she soon learned this was not the case. The main obstacle was that, under existing laws, animal-people are classified as “property.” A second problem, Professor Tischler explains, is the lack of laws that protect animal-people. “There are laws to protect that cow going through slaughter and during transport. But those laws are not well enforced. Why? Because it's inconvenient. And that is the dilemma that we have faced.”

Supreme Master Ching Hai: “Gratefully present the Shining World Compassion Award to Joyce Tischler in recognition of your more than 40 years of tireless work, protecting the lives of animal-people through the legal system, with all love, respect, and appreciation. Wishing you continued success in your noble endeavors, and may Heaven bless you abundantly, always.”