Issue Biomedical Education Companion Animals Experimentation Farmed Animals Vegetarianism Wildlife    Expertise Accountancy Art/Design Education Fundraising Legal Managerial/Strategic Philosophy/Policy/Sociology Scientific Veterinary    Consultants * All Consultants * Bekoff, Marc Berriman, Eva Burnett, Cynthia Chemes, Jodi De Boo, Jasmijn Gabriel, Mary Gorksi, Tim Jewell, Zoe Jones, Dena Keith, Shannon Knight, Andrew Laidlaw, Rob Pomfrey, Vivien Stallwood, Kim Taylor, Nicola Webb, Maria         

Overview

Rob Laidlaw is the founder and Executive Director of Zoocheck Canada, a national wildlife protection charity, established in Toronto, Canada in 1984.  His work over the years has involved:

■ hundreds of welfare audits of zoos and other captive wildlife facilities in Canada and around the world;

■ organizing, delivering and/or participating in a wide range of successful local, regional and national wildlife protection campaigns, including dozens of successful bylaw initiatives and regional campaigns to establish wildlife in captivity legislation, as well as campaigns to protect wildlife in the wild, including polar bears, elephants and wild horses;

■ providing assistance and expert commentary to various governmental and non-governmental agencies regarding wild animals in captivity and various other wildlife issues in Canada and around the world;

■ organising dozens of pubic awareness and capacity building events, including local, regional, national and international lectures, workshops, seminars, conferences and rallies.

Laidlaw has also served as Project Manager and Technical Advisor for the World Society for the Protection of Animals, Chief Inspector of one of Canada’s largest urban humane societies and Canadian Coordinator for Mobilization for Animals. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the Borneo Orangutan Society Canada.

From 2000 – 2005, Laidlaw acted as Project Manager (Canada) and Technical advisor for the World Society for the Protection of Animals, where he was responsible for ongoing investigative and legislative work regarding the welfare of captive wildlife (including the development of the Zoo Exhibit Quick Audit Process); ongoing advocacy and capacity-building initiatives with a number of Asian animal welfare organizations; a long-term investigative study of Canada's role in the international pet reptile trade; and the development of a humane stray dog control program for remote communities in northern Canada.

From 1989 – 1990, Laidlaw was a cruelty investigator and then Chief Inspector at one of Canada's largest urban humane societies. In addition to handling a range of animal cruelty complaints, Laidlaw designed a pet store inspection program and worked to address the unacceptable treatment of animals in circuses and traveling shows.

Selected publications and reports

1.    Wild Animals in Captivity (2008, book): Author

2.    Scales and Tails, The Welfare and Trade of Reptiles Kept As Pets In Canada (2006, report)

3.    What's A Polar Bear Doing In the Tropics? (2006, report): Contributing Editor

4.    The Indian Zoo Inquiry, A Review of Conditions in the Zoos of India (2005, report): Editor

5.    Failing The Grade, A Report On Conditions In Ontario's Zoos (2005, report): Contributor

6.    An Inquiry into Animal Welfare at Indonesian Zoos (2002, report): Contributor

7.    The State of the Ark: A Review of Ontario Zoos 2001 (2001, report): Editor/Contributor

8.    Reintroduction of captive-bred animals to the wild:  Is the modern ark afloat? In Who Cares for Planet Earth, The Con in Conservation, Sussex Academic Press, (2001, book chapter):  Author

9.    The Granby Zoo: A Review of Conditions and Recommendations for Change (2001, report): Author

10.    Commentary on the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) Award of Accredited Status to Marineland of Canada, Niagara Falls (2001, report): Author

11.    Salmonella, captivity-related stress and the human health implications of pet reptiles (2001, paper): Author

12.    Protecting wild animals from zoos, in Satya  (2000, article): Author

13.    Gray Wolf: A Comparison of Husbandry and Housing Standards (2000, report): Author

14.    American Black Bear: A Comparison of Husbandry and Housing Standards (2000, report): Editor

15.    The Bear Essentials: A Survey of Captive American Black Bears in Ontario (1999), report): Editor

16.    A Response from Zoocheck Canada Inc. to the Standards for Exhibiting Circus Animals in Nova Scotia Draft 2 (1998, briefing): Author

17.    A Response from Zoocheck Canada Inc. to the Nova Scotia Standards for Wildlife Parks and Zoos Draft 6 (1998, briefing): Author

18.    Performing Prisoners: A Case Against the Use of Wild Animals In Circuses, Travelling Shows, and Novelty Acts (1998, report): Co-Author

19.    Canada's Forgotten Polar Bears: An Examination of Manitoba's Polar Bear Export Program (1997, report): Author

20.    Zoos in Maritime Canada: An Investigative Report (1996, report): Co-Editor

21.    Zoos in Ontario: An Investigative Report (1995, report): Co-Editor

22.    Should The Suffield Wild Horses Remain Wild? Why the Impending Round-Up Must Be Stopped. A Scientific Challenge to the Department of National Defence's Decision to Remove the Wild Horses from Canadian Forces Base Suffield (1994, report): Editor

23.    Zoo in New Brunswick: An Informal Look (1992, report): Author

24.    Zoos In Ontario: An Informal Look (1988, report): Author

Referees and examples of written work

Available upon request.