LEON COUNTY, FL. (WTXL) - For the first time ever, the FBI will track animal abuse the same way it tracks crimes such as homicide, arson, and assault. At the local level several organizations combine efforts to keep animals safe and prosecute those who harm them.
Hundreds of thousands of animals of all types both domestic and rural are abused every year. SPCA Florida provides care and hope to more than 6,000 homeless cats and dogs each year. In 2014 the FBI made animal cruelty a Class A Felony, adding it to a list that includes homicides and arson. The new designation gives local agencies more power, increasing what officials can charge people with.
Dog fighting catches most of the headlines, the sights are often shocking and difficult to view. According to the Tallahassee Animal Center, animal cruelty cases deal more with neglect and abuse. Animal rights vary from state to state, and include animals such as livestock and some wild creatures. 85% of animal abuse cases seen in Florida deal with dogs and cats.
Investigator David Alford with the Tallahahssee Police Department says, "Cruelty is covered under Florida Statute 828 which is a very broad statute which covers a range of things from lack of providing food and water to proper nutrition and it also covers physical violence towards animals."
Investigator Alford, is typically not the first responder when there's a report of animal abuse, that title falls to Jeff Doyle with Tallahassee Animal Control. He and his staff deal with several cases daily from concerned citizens calling in about animal related issues.
Doyle says, "When we respond we assess the situation. Sometimes things are relatively minor and we can work with them and educate them and be a resource with them and sometimes things are a little more worse."
It's during that assessment that Animal Control determines if the abuse has reached a criminal level. Penalties range from a civil citation and fine to a criminal citation and jail time.
According to Doyle, "If it's a situation where an animals need to be removed for their own safety Animal Control will confiscated animals and bring them to the animal center."
The Animal Center has veterinarians on staff to perform a Law Enforcement Exam. The exam determines the status of the animal, what's wrong with animal, body condition and a check for parasites. In some cases the animals confiscated are deceased and a necropsy is needed to determine cause of death and degree of penalties for the owners.
Doyle says, "These are animals that can't speak for themselves and we need our citizens to be our eyes and our ears. The real take away from this is I hope our citizens are paying attention and if they are seeing things that concern them they need to call us."
But there is a happy ending for many abused animals. Thanks to places like the Tallahassee Animal Center and the Leon County Humane Society animals are put up for adoption in hopes of finding loving homes.
Dog Foster Coordinator Amy Raddar with the Leon County Humane Society says, "Probably about 95% of them given time and the right situation the could completely overcome. That's the amazing thing about animals is that they are so resilient and that they want to be that pet for you."
Raddar says, "We tend to take a lot of the dogs that this is their last chance and last place to go a lot of the times."
Those in the animal welfare and adoption business say, to be proactive and speak up. Raddar says, if you see an animal being abused say something,
"Don't ride by, don't keep going past that animal every day when you know something is not right. Call!"
The first type of protection for animals dates back to the 1600's, since then much has been done to protect their safety and welfare. According to advocates with the SPCA Florida, much more is needed. There are close to 200,000 animals rescued in the U.S. each year.
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