Sandy Toye is offensive when it comes to horses. As a lawyer with a practice solely dedicated to animal law, she handles cases from veterinary malpractice to stable liability.

“Because my passion lies with the horse, not the owner, I would have a conflict of interest if the owner’s goal is in direct contrast to the horse’s best interest,” said Toye, 37.

At the law firm of Sandra L. Toye & Associates in Los Angeles, animal law is divided into three categories: someone has harmed an animal; an animal has harmed someone; or an owner would like to provide for an animal. She believes she’s the only Southern California lawyer who’s devoted her entire firm to the field.

Her equine cases deal mainly with veterinary malpractice and custody battles between co-owners, family members or breeders.

Her cases also address contracts involving the sale of a horse, stable liability, and owners’ rights and liabilities.

The idea for her law firm sparked as a child, when Toye realized she wanted to spend her life helping animals. At first, she wanted to be a veterinarian. But her goal changed at age 7, when her uncle, an attorney, suggested she make a living fighting for animal’s rights. The idea stuck.

She rode horses at least once a week until she became pregnant with her now 3-year-old daughter.

Known throughout the animal community as an expert in the field of animal law, Toye has been published in several animal-related publications. She’s appeared on national television as an animal-law expert and participated in several seminars on the subject. She also speaks at animal-related events on a wide range of topics in the field of animal law.

Since the opening of her firm in 1999, she’s handled hundreds of animal-related legal issues, ranging from simple negotiations with landlords to allow animals into “no-pet” housing, to full-blown jury trials involving injuries to animals.

One time she had a custody battle in which an owner failed to pay the boarding bill and the stable owner refused to release the horse. In another case, a client took a horse who had been neglecteed by his owner, and the legal owners wanted the horse back.

The firm also handles cases defending animals, such as a dog accused of nuisance barking or biting. Toye’s firm also provides full-service estate planning to provide for an animal upon the death or incapacity of the owner.

“Seldom is the best interest of the animal the court’s primary concern,” she said.

Horse cases she has handled include veterinarian malpractice, in which a vet has caused a horse’s death through improper treatment. Stable liability cases typically deal with neglect or improper care, like feeding the horse the wrong kind of food, failing to contact the owner when problems arise, or allowing a horse to harm itself.

A handful of other cases involve contracts dealing with the sale or transfer of horses. As a lawyer in a emotionally charged field, Toye hopes to contribute compassion and understanding.

“My best advice in situations involving disputes among people is to play nice,” Toye said. “When it comes to your animals, don’t take chances. Once your furry family member is harmed or worse, killed, no amount of justice can bring him back. The best thing I can recommend is to get along, and if you must disagree, protect your animals first.”