Companion Animals in Law: The Legal Status of Companion Animals, Veterinary Malpractice, and Other Common Claims

Sarah A. Thompson | Ryther Law Group LLP

Sarah A. Thompson joined Ryther Law Group in 2022, bringing in substantial litigation skills and experience from her work in family law. She became a Partner in 2024.

Sarah grew up in Orange County, California and attended Villanova University, graduating magna cum laude with a major in Sociology and minors in French and Political Science in 2012.

She earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law (“USF”), graduating with honors in 2015, and earning numerous merit awards, including awards in Administrative Law, Family Law, and Evidence. She was admitted to the California Bar in 2015. At USF, Sarah obtained a certificate in Public Interest Law, in part due to her volunteer work with the San Francisco SPCA. All of her legal internships focused on public interest, including internships with Legal Advocates for Children and Youth, the Dependency Team with the Office of the City Attorney of San Francisco, and USF’s Criminal Law Clinic. During law school, Sarah also participated in the Intensive Advocacy Program where she learned essential trial skills from premier litigators and judges from across the county.

Before joining the firm, Sarah practiced family law for five years in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Sarah also taught Legal Drafting as an adjunct faculty member at USF for two years. Sarah came to the firm with significant courtroom and trial experience, mostly in domestic violence restraining matters of order. (In fact, as a certified law clerk, Sarah won her first two trials while still in law school.)

Additionally, Sarah has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for six years in a row (2020 through 2025), an independent, peer-ranking board established by Los Angeles Magazine, and she has been a frequent contributor to legal journals. For instance, the Los Angeles Daily Journal published a few of Sarah’s articles, including “Supplemental Discovery Requests: An underused tool in an era of delay” in 2020.

Since joining the firm, Sarah has been lead attorney in many trials and administrative hearings, such as two trials where she successfully prevented the euthanasia of our client’s canine companions after bite incidents, multiple successful domestic violence restraining order trials, small claims appeals, and a three-week jury trial in August 2023, where Sarah won punitive damages and emotional distress damages in a veterinary malpractice matter, an exceptionally rare result.

Sarah has also appeared on radio, news, and YouTube interviews concerning animal rights and her various cases. Most recently, Sarah was instrumental in securing the safe release of 29 wolf dogs from the City of Barstow and Shasta County.

Sarah is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, and Riverside County Bar Association. And Sarah is currently obtaining an LLM (a master’s in law) in Animal Law from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Sarah enjoys yoga, cooking (as a proud vegan), wine tasting, and travel, as well as hiking with her three rescue wolf dogs – Roku, Rhea, and Attis. Sarah also supports various animal rescues. Having a special affinity for wolf dogs, she volunteers with Apex Protection Project, including sponsoring a wolf dog yearly, assisting with legal issues, and reviewing foster, adoption, and surrender applications. Sarah and her husband have just opened an animal advocacy and sanctuary nonprofit organization, Red Wolf Rescue. Finally, Sarah works with Jill as a rescue partner and attorney with Expand Animal Rights Now.

Session I – The Legal Status of Companion Animals: Evolving Views and Protections | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Legal status of companion animals
  • Companion animal definitions
  • Historical view of domestic animals as personal property in tort actions
  • The conflict between traditional property definitions and evolving public opinion and impact of society views on the legal treatment of companion animals
  • The conflict between traditional property definitions and new statutes related to companion animals
  • Damages for injuries to animals in tort actions – traditional views and evolving caselaw
• Service animals and emotional support animals
  • Definition and legal recognition of emotional support for animals and service animals
  • Federal and state protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Rights of individuals in public spaces and housing

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Veterinary Malpractice and Claims Against Companion Animal Service Providers | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Legal standards for veterinary malpractice
  • Understanding negligence, duty of care, and liability in veterinary services
  • The impact of malpractice claims on veterinary practices and service providers
• Common claims against veterinarians and other providers
  • Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, informed consent disputes, and failure to meet professional standards
  • Defenses available to veterinary professionals, including expert testimony and compliance with industry regulations and standards
• Litigation trends
• • False advertising claims and other legal theories
  • Legislative efforts to expand recovery of monetary damages for companion animal owners