Latest News
USING THE LAW TO PROTECT ANIMALS
For more animal law news from ADO and beyond see our NEWS & EVENTS page.
19/05/2025
New laws commence in NSW allowing renters to apply to landlords to keep animals in rental premises. See our fact sheet here.
16/05/2025
Adidas announces it has stopped using kangaroo skins for football shoes, a trade animal groups around the world, including the ADO, have long protested against.
04/05/2025
ADO volunteers make a written submission to the NSW Government’s review of the Companion Animals Act.
26/04/2025
With one week to go before the Federal Election, the ADO publishes a scorecard for undecided voters highlighting animal protection topics.


Louise Ward and Tara Ward at the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into cats 2025


Animal Defenders Office
The Animal Defenders Office (ADO) is a non-profit community legal centre specialising in animal law and animal protection matters. The ADO is inspired by the Environmental Defenders Offices, which have been around for decades protecting the environment. Now there's an office dedicated entirely to protecting animals and animal defenders. The ADO provides free advice on how the law affects animals and animal advocates, and how it can be used to protect them. We also take an active role in law reform and policy formulation regarding animals, and provide information materials designed both to increase awareness of animal protection issues and to empower the community to engage in public decision-making affecting animals.

The ADO’s mission is to use the law to protect the interests of animals and to enable compassionate choices for humans.

We are a non-profit community legal centre that depends entirely on volunteers and members, so if you'd like to get involved, we'd love to hear from you.

ADO Fundraising Wine
Like to help out the ADO by purchasing some enchanting Australian wine? The ADO is supported by Goodwill Wine, a fantastic social enterprise in Victoria that sources the best boutique wines from around Australia while donating to charities with every bottle. The ADO wines are not ‘fined’ with any animal or fish products (ie they are vegan). We will receive a minimum of 50% of the profits resulting from your purchase - cheers to that! Get yours today here: