An animal rights lawyer who represents the Richmond-based Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) has once again been nominated for a prestigious industry award.
Rebeka Breder is in the running in the “Changemakers” category yet again in the Canadian Lawyer’s magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada, with voting ending June 5.
“I feel honoured and excited…I have been involved in the animal protection movement since I was 12 or 13 years old and to see my work recognized in a mainstream legal publication speaks more about how animal rights activism is no longer considered ‘fringe,’” Breder told the Richmond News.
“I take on only those cases that help individual animals or help advance animal law generally.
“So, if a dog bit you, and you want that dog put down, I am not the right person for you; I would be the one defending the dog who caused the alleged injury.
“In a nutshell, I feel lucky that I made a career out of a childhood passion of mine – fighting for animals in court.”
In the past, Breder was noted for taking up a groundbreaking case for the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, suing the federal government over how it transports horses to slaughter.
On top of taking cases for non-profits like RAPS, she has also organized conferences and gave lectures on animal law.
Breder co-founded an animal law course at the University of British Columbia and founded the first animal law section of the Canadian Bar Association.
