Historic victory for Cedar the goat -- and what's next 🐐

Advancing Law for Animals is proud to announce a landmark victory and partial settlement in Cedar’s case. Shasta County has agreed to pay $300,000 to settle claims that Sheriff’s Deputies violated the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution when they drove over 500 miles to seize Cedar and deliver him to slaughter.

This settlement is the largest on record for the illegal slaughter of a farmed animal. It sends a powerful message: government officials cannot act with impunity when they violate the rights of people — and the lives of animals.

Major outlets continued coverage of Cedar's case and our most recent win, including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Guardian, USAToday, DailyMail, New York Times, Reuters, USA Today, and more. Some of these outlets dug beneath the shocking facts of the case, and touched on the issue of the evolving status of animals under the law. Here are some standouts:

Reuters: "That Shasta County agreed to the six-figure payout strikes me as the latest sign of the evolving legal status of animals, a recognition (at least sometimes) that to many people, pets are more akin to family members than fungible objects. 'Everyone knows the difference between a car and a kitten,' plaintiffs’ counsel Vanessa Shakib, co-founder of Advancing Law for Animals, told me. 'The law needs to reflect that, and the case law is starting to.'"

USA Today: "'Litigation of this kind drives accountability. It sends a message to government officials to handle animals with care and dignity,' Vanessa Shakib with Advancing Law for Animals, an attorney for Long and her daughter, told USA TODAY in a statement. 'They are more than property. They are family.'"

 The Washington Post:"'We can’t get justice here because Cedar can never come home,' Shakib, co-founder of the nonprofit Advancing Law for Animals, which specializes in animal law, told The Washington Post. 'But what’s important is that we make sure that this never happens again to another family and that government officials understand that animals are not property. They are family members.'"

But our work is not over. This civil rights litigation continues against remaining California fair defendants and 4-H volunteer.

For the latest in case developments, subscribe here. To make a tax-deductible contribution to our litigation fund, donate here. You can also support our work by sending this link to a fellow animal lover, following us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or purchasing a super cute, super cozy fundraiser tee!