As 2025 comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a year defined by moral clarity and rigorous legal action. At the Nonhuman Rights Project, we believe that justice is not a finite resource, nor is it a concept that should be limited by the boundaries of species.
We’re building a future that includes justice for all beings—a future where the law recognizes the fundamental and inherent rights of those who’ve long been overlooked by our legal institutions.
None of the progress we made this year happened in a vacuum. Every achievement and historic step was made possible by a community that values reason and compassion over tradition, and justice over convenience and the status quo.
Double your impact: Today and tomorrow only, every donation will be DOUBLE matched. Your gift will go twice as far to help us scale our legal work in 2026. |
The NhRP is the only organization strategically challenging an outdated legal status quo that views animals as mere “things” under the law. This year, we continued to lead this fight in courtrooms across the country. Because of your support, we have: -
Defended the role of the judiciary: We filed a lawsuit in Utah challenging H.B. 249—a law that represents an extreme violation of the separation of powers, stripping courts of their authority to rule on issues of fundamental justice.
-
Historic hearing for chimpanzee rights: We fought for the right to liberty for seven chimpanzees held captive at the DeYoung Family Zoo by arguing before the Michigan Court of Appeals. Our case continues into the new year as we filed our Application for Leave to Appeal, asking the Michigan Supreme Court to reverse the Court of Appeals’ decision and send the case back to the trial court. Leading up to this historic hearing, we engaged the next generation of legal minds through a series of "Lunch and Learns" at Michigan universities, ensuring the shift toward nonhuman rights takes root in our academic and legal institutions.
-
Filed three new habeas cases: This year we filed a lawsuit in California on behalf of elephants Billy and Tina, followed by two additional habeas lawsuits in Pennsylvania on behalf of elephants Savanna, Tasha, Angeline, Victoria, and Zuri. Through these cases, we’re relentlessly pushing for the evolution of our common law to include the right to liberty for autonomous nonhuman animals—demanding that justice be driven not by an outdated status quo, but by evolving scientific knowledge and societal norms.
-
Expanded our legal work: We expanded our work to provide amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs to ensure the law reflects contemporary values in cases involving companion animals and farmed animals. In June, a New York court relied on our briefs to recognize dogs as "immediate family" under the common law—a significant step away from viewing them as mere property. In August, we filed an amicus brief in California in a case involving chickens and ducks rescued from two industrial agriculture facilities, arguing that animal cruelty is a “significant evil” that justifies emergency intervention under the common law defense of necessity.
|
These milestones are significant, but they’re only the beginning. In 2026, the NhRP is prepared to take our work even further. Our goals for the new year include new cases and legal strategies, geographic expansion, and broader public outreach to shift the cultural landscape.
We’re excited to share more about our 2026 plans soon! Until then, would you consider making a year-end gift to ensure we start the new year strong and equipped for the legal battles ahead? |
