Practice Groups

Animal Welfare Act Cases

Case Examples

R v P: Samuel March  represented a defendant who was charged with three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals following the rescue of three lambs belonging to King Charles. The defendants were acquitted of the animal welfare act offences after the Crown offered no evidence on those counts.

R v C: Samuel March instructed to prosecute a man who killed his partner’s chihuahua by slamming him against a wall. The Defendant was ultimately convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months immediate custody and was disqualified from owning or keeping any animal for 10 years.
In the first ever private prosecution for Advocates for Animals, taken to trial, Advocates for Animals instructed Stephen Wells (Leading Junior) and Samuel March (Led Junior) to represent their client against a company director of a rehoming service company, who had breached their duty towards dogs and caused suffering.
Counsel were instructed in this ultimately successful private prosecution, brought by a volunteer at a dog rehoming service, against an ex-colleague who went on to start her own for-profit rehoming company and left dogs malnourished in squalid conditions. The defendant appealed to the Crown Court, and the prosecutor had insufficient funds to contest the appeal. Stephen assisted with persuading the CPS to take over the appeal, and was subsequently instructed at the appeal hearing in the Crown Court. The defendant’s conviction was upheld, as was her disqualification from keeping dogs.

RSPCA v G: Samuel March instructed as defence trial counsel in a private animal welfare case at Southampton Crown Court, where the owner of 29 cats was charged on a 13-count indictment with causing unnecessary suffering. Successfully argued that, in cases where an omission to provide veterinary care is alleged, the prosecution must show not just that steps had not been taken that “could” have alleviated the suffering (as argued by the prosecution), but must make the jury sure that, but for the alleged omission, the animal would not have suffered, or would have suffered less.

Samuel March in particular has become a barrister of choice for vegan activists. As the inventor of the plant-based hemp barrister’s wig, he is one of few advocates in the country who can offer to present a client’s case without the use of animal products such as horsehair wigs, wool gowns or suits, leather belts or shoes.

News