National Justice for Animals Week 2025, Feb. 23 ? 28

The Animal Legal Defense Fund created National Justice for Animals Week in order to promote a greater understanding of what criminal cruelty is under the law and how we can build stronger laws to protect animals, hold abusers accountable for their crimes, and achieve justice for animal cruelty victims.

Every year we choose an animal cruelty victim whose story stands as a reminder of what we?re fighting for, and the huge victories we achieve when we stand together. And this year we are proud to feature animals that may be easily overlooked: three crows who were shot and killed in Washington state.

When we think about animal victims, our minds generally go to companion animals or farmed animals, but common wildlife, like crows, are also the victims of cruelty as proved in this particular case.

The perpetrator shot birds, squirrels, and his neighbor?s 8-month-old kitten, Hades (who survived), multiple times because they were, according to him, ?pests.? The man then gruesomely displayed the deceased animals around his property.

The lead prosecutor on the case was Washington?s animal crimes assistant attorney general (AC-AAG), a new role supported by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

We?re proud to say that the AC-AAG secured the first-ever felony animal cruelty convictions involving wildlife victims in Washington state! A huge win for animal justice!

All animals, no matter their species, deserve safety, protection, and justice. If you believe that, too, then please support National Justice for Animals Week now to help spread awareness and give animals a brighter tomorrow.