Animal law is currently reported to be one of the fastest growing areas of the law. This course will examine the role of animals in the law through various legal theories in property, tort, contract, trusts and estates, criminal, and constitutional law. More than simply an introspective into companion animals, the student will also study the law's treatment of wildlife and animals used for commercial purposes such as entertainment, food and research. The student will begin by considering such elementary issues as the definition of "animal" and emerge from the class with a thorough understanding of the diverse, complicated and evolving world that is animal law.