Leading voice in animal law joins Best Friends Animal Society

KANAB, Utah - Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization, announced that Rebecca Huss, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Phyllis and Richard Duesenberg Chair in Law at Valparaiso University Law School, will be joining Best Friends as general counsel. 

Huss gained national prominence in 2007 when she was appointed by the District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia as the guardian/special master of the dogs seized during the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting case.    

"We at Best Friends knew of Huss' accomplishments prior to the Bad Newz Kennels case, but we learned her true heart through her work advocating for those dogs and her success in helping to prove that dogs rescued from dog fighting did deserve a chance at life," said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. "It has become commonplace now for dogs seized from these situations to be assessed and rehabilitated, so it is easy to forget that prior to this case dogs like these were summarily killed. Huss was instrumental in this groundbreaking precedent."  

Huss will come on board in July 2019. She will play a key role in advising management and the Board of Directors on all legal matters, work with management to ensure Best Friends has policies and practices that will protect the organization's assets and reputation, while also supporting the success of Best Friends programs.   

Huss has been honored for her leadership in animal law including the 2019 Excellence in Animal Law award from the Animal Law Section of the American Association of Law Schools and the 2011 Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award from the Animal Law Committee of the American Bar Association's Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section.   

Her focus in research and writing is on the changing nature of the relationship between humans and their companion animals and whether the law adequately reflects the importance of that relationship as well as analyzing issues relating to service and assistance animals. Huss has also taught at the University of Iowa College of Law, Notre Dame Law School, Stetson University College of Law and Lewis & Clark Law School. In addition to Animal Law, Professor Huss teaches Non Profit Organizations, Professional Responsibility, Business Associations and other business law courses.