Barker grant aids U.Va. animal law program

With a $1 million gift from television personality Bob Barker, the University of Virginia will establish an animal law program at its law school.

Dean Paul Mahoney said Barker's gift will allow the law school to expand its curriculum in "this important and rapidly developing area of the law."

The law school this fall will offer its first formal course focused exclusively on animal law.

"Our intent is to cover the spectrum, and truly it is the spectrum of law," said U.Va. law professor Mimi Riley, who will spearhead the program.

The course, for example, will look at law relating to animals as property, their commercial use and their inclusion in wills and estates, she said.

Barker, the retired longtime host of the "The Price is Right" game show, is a well-known animal-rights advocate.

Riley said the program will be designed as an academic discussion that will give students a fair and grounded view of the law. "That will certainly include a focus on animal rights," she said.

The Bob Barker Animal Rights Program also will include guest speakers, independent study and a writing competition focused on animal law.

Barker has made gifts for animal law programs at other law schools, including those at Harvard, Columbia, Georgetown and Duke.

-- Karin Kapsidelis