Animal Law
Animal Law in California: Legal Protection for the Voiceless
Regarding animal law, James L. Arrasmith brings a fierce commitment to justice, not just for people, but for the animals who can’t speak for themselves.
Whether you’re facing a legal issue involving animal cruelty, custody in a divorce, landlord disputes over pets, or a dangerous dog allegation, our firm understands these cases’ complex and emotional nature. In California, animal law touches criminal, civil, and administrative courts, and we’re ready to fight for what’s right.
What is Animal Law?
Animal law refers to any legal case involving non-human animals. That could mean prosecuting animal cruelty, defending pet owners, working on wildlife protection cases, or handling disputes between neighbors over barking dogs. The law is evolving, especially in California — where animals are increasingly recognized as more than “property.”
Common Animal Law Cases We Handle
Animal Custody Disputes
Pets are family. But in California divorce proceedings, animals can now be considered under best interest standards, much like children. If you’re in a breakup or custody fight over a pet, we can help protect your bond.
Pet Restrictions & Housing Rights
Landlords often try to evict tenants over pets — even when doing so might violate state or local housing laws. We’ll help you understand your rights and stand up for your furry roommates.
Animal Cruelty & Neglect
Whether you’re a whistleblower or someone falsely accused, animal cruelty cases are severe. We navigate criminal and administrative systems to protect animals and your legal reputation.
Dangerous Dog Claims
California has strict liability laws around dog bites. But not every case is as it seems. We defend dogs and owners from unfair “dangerous dog” designations or euthanasia rulings.
California’s Animal Welfare Landscape
California has some of the strongest animal welfare laws in the country. From Penal Code 597 (outlawing cruelty) to laws about leaving animals in hot cars, this state doesn’t mess around. Judges can even consider an animal’s welfare in custody cases now, thanks to California Family Code 2605.
We stay on top of changing legislation, local ordinances, and trends in how courts handle animal-related claims, because every detail matters when defending the voiceless.
Why Choose James L. Arrasmith?
- ✅ A decade and a half of legal experience in California
- ✅ Passionate about protecting animals and their owners
- ✅ Willing to take tough cases that other attorneys won’t touch
- ✅ Transparent, honest, and focused on results
Our mission is justice — whether it purrs, barks, or speaks for itself.
Let’s Protect What Matters
Whether you’re fighting for your pet, facing accusations, or trying to stop abuse, we’re here. Call James L. Arrasmith today, and let’s build a case that protects the voiceless and holds wrongdoers accountable.
Client Reviews
James Arrasmith is one smart attorney! He understood my problem and came up with a great solution right away. I can depend on him to listen and ask the right questions to get straight to my issues. His availability is great and he always responds quickly. His...
Hiring James to handle my eviction / landlord tenant case is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. He assisted me every step of the way and made the process smooth and easy. It was obvious that he truly cared about my case and didn’t just treat me like...
I've had a lot of attorneys in my life, and James is by far the best attorney that I've ever hired. He helped me with my case from start to finish and clearly explained the process to me without making it overly complex. He made a difficult situation easy. I...
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James is an amazing attorney!! I had never hired a lawyer before (and was very nervous), but James took hours of his time to explain the entire procedure to me. He gave me a thorough consultation, and I was so impressed with his explanations that I hired him...
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James helped me with two landlord tenant issues. In both cases, I was able to expeditiously resolve my issue with the tenant. I appreciate his genuine care for his clients; a rare trait in an attorney. I would highly recommend him.
I cannot begin to describe how amazing and reassuring it was to have James guide me through the most challenging moment of my life. When my mother let me know she would soon be passing from cancer and wanted to leave her trust to me, I was confused...
James Arrasmith did a great job for me on my legal matter. From the first time I talked to him he was very professional and knew what he was talking about. I would recommend James Arrasmith to anyone who needs help with family law! Thank you sir so much!
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James Arrasmith is a fantastic attorney. He is respectful and knowledgeable! Always very responsive and really takes his time explaining everything so you can understand it. I would highly recommend you meet with James if you need any assistance with family...
Mr. Arrasmith was cocounsel on a complex case, but was able persuade a notoriously bad judge to go along with the resolution. He’s a fine lawyer that works hard to make sure he is prepared to win the case. I highly recommend him.
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He is experts and reasonable attorney.
Best attorney I ever worked with... he takes time to explain the whole process and and will make sure you are happy with his work. We did a living trust and he helped me with an eviction case. I highly recommend him!
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I had a few questions about my situation, I needed some legal advice so I went ahead and contacted the Arrasmith firm. James was very helpful and polite, I asked him about a dozen questions and will be pursuing llegal action with his firm. Definitely...
I cannot begin to describe how amazing and reassuring it was to have James guide me through the most challenging moment of my life. When my mother let me know she would soon be passing from cancer and wanted to leave her trust to me, I was confused...
James is a professional with outstanding customer service. We hired him to take care of an issue for us and he delivered as promised. I highly recommend him if you have any ongoing legal issues. James it's absolute FIRE!
He will go out of his way . The best lawyer in Sacramento!I don’t know what I would do without lawyer james.
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James is a wonderful addition to the legal community. He is hard working, bright and ethical. He goes the extra mile for his clients.
He was a great attorney.
I contacted Mr. Arrasmith regarding a disability related inquiry for a family member. Mr. Arrasmith provided excellent and immediate responses to my questions. I felt as though he truly cared about the well being of my family. His thoughtful approach permitted...
Great consultation, efficient, & positive attorney. I needed possession of my home, Mr. Arrasmith acted swiftly and was able to provide me the information I needed to understand what could have been a lengthy process. Mr. Arrasmith produced results in a timely...
I had a few questions about my situation, I needed some legal advice so I went ahead and contacted the Arrasmith firm. James was very helpful and polite, I asked him about a dozen questions and will be pursuing llegal action with his firm. Definitely recommend...
James is a great guy. He has helped me to start a very difficult case. That I was nervous to do. He has made me Confident that he will fight hard on my case.
I am so happy I made a decision to hire James to help me with my case. He was very professional and assisted me every step of the way. I was able to get a very positive settlement on my case. I couldn’t be happier!
James has helped me tremendously with my legal matter by going over all the forms with me and clearly explaining how to complete them. He has made everything easy for me. I am very glad I called James!
James did a great job helping us with getting our settlement. Followed up in timely manners and updates always provided. Thank you for your help!
Gave James smith a call late at night with an immediate answer, he is very quick to respond and was eager to answer any questions I had.
Mr. Arrasmith was great, he answered all my questions and was very helpful with my legal matter. Thanks again James.
Mr. Arrasmith was great, he answered all my questions and was very helpful with my legal matter. Thanks again James.
Mr. Arrasmith was cocounsel on a complex case, but was able persuade a notoriously bad judge to go along with the resolution. He’s a fine lawyer that works hard to make sure he is prepared to win the case. I highly recommend him.
I've had a lot of attorneys in my life, and James is by far the best attorney that I've ever hired. He helped me with my case from start to finish and clearly explained the process to me without making it overly complex. He made a difficult situation easy. I...
James is a great lawyer! He is honest and very trustworthy. He will give you sound legal advice.
Great service and customer service. Very professional too, thanks James and Maria!! Having a bilingual attorney who knows so many different aspects of the law is a BIG plus.
I found James online after an extensive search. He was knowledgeable and worked with me on a payment plan I could afford. I'm happy I picked him for dealing with my awful landlord. He helped me get the settlement I needed to improve my living situation.
Lawyer James Arrasmith For me He very was very approachable and likeable as a person . I felt very comfortable with the knowledge, and information shared for our case. which we got desired result from. He to me is a very type of Lawyer and people person would...
James is a wonderful lawyer and person! He is hardworking , ethical, quick and effective lawyer! He knows what he is doing.
James Arrasmith always does amazing job helping me with my landlord and tenant cases!! He is my go-to attorney when I need assistance in evicting tenants. I like how he also represents tenants as well as landlords - so he knows both perspectives in an...
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Best lawyer he will get the job done went out of his way totally
Mr. Arrasmith and his team are amazing. Mr. Arrasmith is very knowledgeable and has been amazing through our whole process. He treats people like a human being and not a paycheck, I would highly recommend him to everyone.
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A Very Nice, Personable Attorney/Person!! He is Very Patient and Willing to Listen to My {Tour} Case/Problems>I would Highly Recommend James to Anyone Seeking Fair and Equitable Justice!! Mark, CA.
Thank you Mr James for helping me. What a great attorney! If you need help call Mr Arrowsmith!
I give James Arrowsmith Attorney at Law 5 stars not just because he supports and represents CAED (our Non- Profit Organization that works with children ) but also because of how decent a person I've found him to be. He is such a good person that...
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James has helped me tremendously with my legal matter by going over all the forms with me and clearly explaining how to complete them. He has made everything easy for me. I am very glad I called James!
I am Latina and my English is not very good, therefore the attorney made sure that there was an assistant who spoke Spanish and who translated everything he told me and answered all my questions. Excellent service, I recommend it.
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James has a very good heart. He takes his cases personally as if it was him. He is a very nice understanding guy
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James arasmith is an excellent attorney when I needed help or advice he was always there to answer my calls or emails a very kind person listens & cares.
Thank you so much for being highly responsive. Making I understand every step of the process. As well as checking in with me before important decisions need to be made.
Very friendly, personable, and professional. I was able to get through my legal issue relatively smoothly and had exceptional support through the entire process. Pricing was reasonable and the billing process was not complex.
I had some legal questions, and contacted James Arrasmith Law firm. His response was quick, and very helpful.
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Excellent legal service. Fantastic communication and knowledge of the law.