First of its kind new animal law program at U of T 'a long time coming'

The University of Toronto's law school is introducing a new program focused on animal law.

"It does, a bit, feel like a long time coming," said Angela Fernandez, a law school professor and director of the new program.

"We've kind of gotten to a point now with the resources and the projects ... we've tipped over now into something that really just deserves a full sort of name as a program," Fernandez said.

The law school has offered courses before, but the program will now allow students to study the topic more deeply through courses, seminars, fellowships, advocacy outreach and research opportunities.

Angela Fernandez is the director of the animal law program. She says the program has felt like a long time coming. (Mark Bochsler/CBC)

While organizations like Animal Justice exist to