Legal Personhood of Animals (I): The case for the legal personhood of companion animals. Synthesis of doctrinal developments.

Abstract

Law 2015-177 of February 16, 2015, modifying the French Civil Code, defined animals as « living beings doted with sensibility », which marked an evolution in French Law. Yet neither attributed legal personhood nor provided with a new legal regime, animals remain, except where special laws protect them, covered by the regime of things. The objective of the March 29, 2018 Seminar was twofold: • To demonstrate that companion animals are capable of being granted legal personhood. • To recommend, concomitantly, the recognition of the legal category of (natural) non-human person and the creation of a special regime attached to it.

Keywords

• legal personhood
• companion animals
• legal status
• (natural) non-human person
• doctrine
• legal status of the companion animal