The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc. is a think-and-do tank pursuing a paradigm shift in human responsibility towards, and value of, nonhuman animals by advancing animal law, animal policy, and related interdisciplinary studies.
About Our Benefactor
Brooks McCormick Jr.
Brooks McCormick, Jr. had a deep bond with animals. He shared his life with many companion animals, cherishing their emotional cognizance and intellectual capacity. His dearest relationship was with his two dogs, Barney and Bailey, who he regarded on a level equal to any human counterpart.
Brooks found a purpose for his life and his fortune in his profound connection to animals. Recognizing that every animal has a unique and inherent value as an individual being, Brooks was troubled by the fact that animals were treated as property under the law. Brooks hoped that with a deeper understanding, policymakers could gain an objective analysis and create momentum for change. Through his vision and wealth, Brooks hoped to leave a legacy of opportunity that would produce a profound change in animal rights law and policy.
Brooks passed away in 2015, and in 2017 the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc. was founded to realize Brooks’ vision of creating a renaissance in animal protection. Today, the Brooks Institute continues Brooks’ legacy by supporting empirical research and cutting-edge scholarship, programs and initiatives that advance animal law, animal policy, and related interdisciplinary studies, as well as facilitating strategic collaborations that advance the whole of animal protection.