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• Brief Introduction to Pet Damages
• Legal Overview of Damages for Injury to Animals
• Table of cases related to damages in pet (companion animal) cases.
• Table of statutes and pending bills related to pet damages or veterinary malpractice (companion animal).
• NEW! The Illinois Court of Appeals held that pet damages are not limited to nominal damages where the pet has no market value, but may include the actual value to plaintiffs. In this case, damages were established by the $4784 plaintiffs paid for veterinary expenses. The Illinois court relied on the Kansas Court of Appeals reasoning in Burgess v. Shampooch Pet Industries, Inc., 35 Kan.App.2d 458, 463, 131 P.3d 1248, 1252 (2006).

• New - Detailed Discussion of Pet Damages Actions in the 50 States - Determining the Value of Companion Animals in Wrongful Harm or Death Claims: A Survey of U.S. Decisions and an Argument for the Authorization to Recover for Loss of Companionship in Such Cases, by Marcella S. Roukas, Animal Legal & Historical Center (2007).
• Non-economic Damages in Pet Litigation: The Serious Need to Preserve a Rational Rule, by Victor E. Schwartz and Emily J. Laird, 33 Pepp. L. Rev. 227 (2006).
• The Economic Value of Companion Animals:  A Legal and Anthropological Argument for Special Valuation, by Geordie Duckler, 8 Animal L. 199 (2002).
• Resolving Confusion in Pet Owner Tort Cases:  Recognizing Pets' Anthropomorphic Qualities Under a Property Classification, by Lynn A. Epstein, 26 S. Ill. U. L. J. 31 (2001).
• Valuing Man's and Woman's Best Friend:  The Moral and Legal Status of Companion Animals, by Rebecca Huss, 86 Marq. L. Rev. 47 (Fall, 2002).
• "Man's Best Friend:"  Property or Family Member?  An Examination of the Legal Classification of Companion Animals and Its Impact on Damages Recoverable for Their Wrongful Death or Injury, by William C. Root, 47 Vill. L. Rev. 423 (2002).
• Animals as Property, Gary Francione.

Web Center Topic Page on Police Shooting Pets (discusses the implication of suits against municipalities, Section 1983 actions, and damages issues).