TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Two years ago, the City of Tallahassee created a task force to help stop animal abuse and hold criminals accountable.
Wednesday, the city commission will hear how successful those efforts have become.
Right now, 10 people are on it. The city recommends checking out the registry before buying, selling or giving away pets.
The 58 cases of animal cruelty have led to 35 arrests so far. That includes 83 animals, 39 of them were later adopted.
The city says the task force shows residents ways to care for their pets in a healthy and humane way.
"Cruelty to animals is just something that we don't tolerate in our community, and the Animal Crimes Task Force was in direct response to this as a way to increase education about animal crimes. It also increases awareness," said Ashley Edwards, the director of parks, recreation and neighborhood affairs. "We've had a lot of our citizens now that come and help us, because they see something, they say something, they do something about it -- and they call Animal Control."
One goal is to increase the fine for first infractions from $250 to $350. These are the types of incidents that aren't considered criminal but are still fall under animal cruelty.
