Suzana Gartner
Suzana Gartner | |
|---|---|
 Suzana Gartner during a presentation | |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto Osgoode Hall Law School |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, Mediator, Animal Law Advocate |
Suzana Gartner is a lawyer, mediator, and animal advocate. Her legal practice, Gartner & Associates Animal Law, is the first law firm in Canada to focus exclusively on animal law and the mediation of animal law disputes.
Gartner serves as the Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Animal Law Executive Committee.[1] She is a past member of the Ontario Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Executive Committee.[2] She sits on the Board of Advisors for Animal Justice Canada.[3] Gartner is also a member of the Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI) working group, ‘Animals in the law and Humanities’ at the University of Toronto.[4]
Gartner is a member in good standing with The Law Society of Upper Canada.
Early Life and Animal Welfare
Gartner’s journey into animal welfare began as a shelter volunteer. In 2010, a chance encounter led her to an abandoned dog at a Toronto municipal shelter. She regularly walked him, but as days passed, and no came to claim or adopt him, she realized the implications. She convinced her mother to meet him and that day, he was adopted and found a home.
Saving this one life was her impetus to commit to change the legal system, and work to put an end to the killing of adoptable companion animals.
In 2013, Gartner completed her Master of Laws degree in ADR at Osgoode Hall Law School. Her research combined ADR methods with the field of animal law, and she coined the term, ACAP, Acceptable Companion Animal Philosophy,[5] a balanced approach that recognizes the inherent value and sentience of companion animals, and proposes consensus building as a strategy to amend animal legislation towards ending the plight of homeless companion animals.
Career
From 2009-2010, Gartner worked for the Ontario Ministry of Labour, in the Dispute Resolution Services Branch, as a mediator intern.
In 2014, Gartner launched Gartner & Associates Animal Law,[6] a law firm that represents clients with animal-related disputes, focuses on protecting animal’s interests, and advancing the field of animal law.
Gartner continues to lobby provincial and federal governments to amend animal legislation to improve the conditions for animals across Canada and abroad.
Publications and Presentations
'Pet Insurance Growing But Read the Fine Print' in The Lawyers Weekly[7]
Judge limits Toronto lawyer to two pets in the Law Times News.[8]
‘Animal law: Reducing Euthanasia in City Shelters’[9] to the Canadian Bar Association.[10]
‘Improving Canadian Federal Anti-Cruelty Legislation’[11] at the Institute of the Ontario Bar Association's session ‘Current Trends and Important Developments in Animal law’.[12][13]
‘Pet Custody Disputes: Companion Animals as Sentient Beings,’ in the Newsletter of the Animal Law section of the Ontario Bar Association (November, 2015).[14]
References
- ^ "Animal Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association".
- ^ "ADR Section of the Ontario Bar Association".
- ^ "Board of Advisors for Animal Justice Canada".
- ^ "Jackman Humanities Institute".
- ^ "further explanation of ACAP".
- ^ "Gartner & Associates Animal Law".
- ^ Moulton, Donalee (November 11, 2016). "Pet Insurance Growing But Read the Fine Print". www.lawyersweekly-digital.com. The Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
- ^ Robinson, Alex (September 12, 2016). "Judge limits Toronto lawyer to two pets" (PDF). Law Times News.
- ^ Gartner, Suzana. "Animal law: Reducing Euthanasia in City Shelters".
- ^ "Animal law: Reducing Euthanasia in City Shelters". Animal Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. May 3, 2013.
- ^ Gartner, Suzana. "Improving Canadian Federal Anti-Cruelty Legislation".
- ^ "Animal Law section of the Ontario Bar Association, Annual Institute (February 2014)" (PDF). Ontario Bar Association. February 2014.
- ^ Kelerma, Kristen (March 4, 2014). "Ontario Bar Association hosts session on Animal Law". Today's Farmer.
- ^ "Pet Custody Disputes: Companion Animals as Sentient Beings". Ontario Bar Association Newsletter. November 2015.
External links
- Website of Gartner’s Animal law practice, Gartner & Associates Animal Law (http://www.animallawyers.ca).
- Website of Gartner’s ADR practice, The Dispute Resolution Specialists (http://thedisputeresolutionspecialists.com/).