The Power and the Passion to Provide Hope
USERL's Board of Directors
USERL's Board of Directors consists of 2 members. The Board of Directors is the governing body of USERL. They set the policies for the organization, monitor the organization’s operations and their effectiveness, serve as public figures for the organization (fundraising, by directly donating to the non-profit and soliciting donations from others and advocating for USERL), and ensure legal and ethical integrity.
Bruce Wagman - Board Chair
For almost three decades, Bruce Wagman has been using his legal education and well-honed skills to help animals in all sectors of society, and benefit both society and the animals themselves. He is the only lawyer running an exclusive animal law practice in a major United States firm. He litigates, drafts animal-friendly legislation, oversees rescue operations, and consults clients who care for and protect animals. He has published two major works, the leading casebook for law schools nationwide -- Animal Law: Cases and Materials -- and a global survey of animal laws, A Worldview of Animal Law, the only global survey of animal law. Bruce also founded Project Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary that is home to chimpanzees retired from a research laboratory.
Bruce’s forte is the kind of creative lawyering it takes to fit animal interests into the legal world, and his clients regularly applaud his ability to model solutions and take on the toughest problems. His practice covers a broad range of animal-related legal issues -- including cases involving the use of animals in entertainment, biomedical research, animal agriculture/food production, animal cruelty, and wildlife control. He has a long history of wide-ranging “impact litigation,” but he also loves to work with individuals on cases involving dog bites, animal custody disputes, and injuries to, and caused by, animals. Bruce brings an undeniable passion for each of his cases, a dedication to both his human clients and the animals involved, and he has a proven ability to turn that passion into winning arguments both in and out of the courtroom. He takes an “eyes on the prize” approach to all of his matters.
Bruce’s clients include numerous animal protection organizations as well as private individuals. He has worked on behalf of many species, including alpacas, bears, birds, cats, chickens, chinchillas, chimpanzees, cows, deer, dogs, dolphins, ducks, elephants, elk, ferrets, geese, goats, gorillas, horses (domestic and wild), lions, mice, monkeys, pigs, rabbits, sharks, turkeys, whales, and wolves.
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Learn more about Bruce's work here:
Jennifer Hack - USERL Executive Director, Board Secretary
A 30 plus year veteran in the Equestrian community, Jennifer graduated from the State University of New York with a degree in Elementary Education in 1993. She is a graduate H-A from the United States Pony Club, Inc. and was been a riding instructor, clinician, and judge for the past 25 years, specializing in difficult horses. Jennifer came to USERL in 2001, initially volunteering to train USERL horses available for adoption. Since that time, she has, at one time or another, held almost every position within the league, from transporter to adoption and foster coordinator, to regional director.
In 2005, Jennifer was named the Investigations Director for USERL, and appointed as Executive Director in 2006. She has 10 years of experience in Equine Cruelty Investigations, is certified in Body Condition Scoring by Code III Associates and holds additional certifications from the University of MO Law Enforcement Training Institute, Wake Technical Community College Continuing Education and the NCSU Extension Horse Protection Officers Short Course.
Jennifer developed, implemented and was an instructor in the USERL - Equine Cruelty Investigation Course which instructed Animal Control Officers and Law Enforcement officials in performing equine cruelty investigations.