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Animal Cruelty Taskforce
- 1. ACT Newsletter - Animal Hoarding
- 2. Animal Cruelty Taskforce Description
- 3. ACT Newsletter - Abuse or Illness?
ACT Newsletter - Animal Cruelty Taskforce Information
Humane Society of Southern Arizona
ACT UPDATES
Animal Cruelty Taskforce of Southern Arizona’s
Newsletter for Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice and Animal Protection Professionals
Volume One, Number 2
Spring 2001
NOTE FROM THE CHAIRMAN:
As you know, the Pima County Sheriff and Pima County Attorney have expressed an interest in aggressively pursuing animal cruelty cases because of the proven link between animal abuse and violence towards humans.
80% of violent sociopaths abused animals;
36% of sexual predators,
48% of convicted rapists, and
30% of convicted child molesters reported a history of abusing animals,
80% of domestic violence victims report that their batterer is also violent toward their animals,
71% of battered women reported being forced to watch violence being inflicted on their pets.Studies prove that persons who harm animals are either currently committing violence toward humans or will do so in the immediate future. The level of violence being expressed increases over time. Animal abuse, therefore, is a warning signal that the offender needs significant behavior modification and, if unchecked, will harm another human being.
– Det. Mike Duffey, Pima Co. Sheriff’s Dept. and ACT Co-Chairman
WHAT IS ACT?
ACT was partially created to help law enforcement personnel understand and successfully use the new Class Six animal cruelty felony law (signed August 1999). Additionally, ACT works as a public information and training organization to raise community awareness and help prevent violent crimes toward animals.
ACT MISSION STATEMENT:
ACT is a non-political coalition of organizations who share the mutual goals of protecting animals and human beings from violent crime through the utilization of existing laws; prosecuting or rehabilitating offenders; providing public education or services to the animal and human victims of violent crime; or are practicing members of the veterinary medical community trained in the detection and treatment of animal cruelty. Since ACT deals with ongoing cases and confidential information, membership is limited to personnel from law enforcement and criminal justice agencies; personnel from organizations with existing programs that aid law enforcement and the prevention of animal cruelty; and personnel such as veterinarians or related professionals trained in detecting and diagnosing animal cruelty, treating animal victims, human offenders or providing public education.
ACT ONLINE:
Information from the Animal Cruelty Taskforce on educational opportunities, upcoming seminars, public safety initiatives, cruelty cases and more are always available through our website: www.act-az.org
ACT MEMBERS:
Pima County Attorney’s Office –
Multiple Divisions
Pima County Sheriff’s Department
Marana Police Department
Humane Society of Southern Arizona
Arizona Department of Agriculture – Animal Services Division
Tucson Police Department – Multiple Divisions
Arizona Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory
Pima Animal Control Center
Pima County Juvenile Courts – Multiple Divisions
88-CRIME Program
Kearny Police Department
Southern Arizona Veterinary Medical Association
City of Tucson Attorney’s Office – Criminal Division
Pima County Victim Witness Program
Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections
Pima County Adult Probation
University of Arizona Police Department
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department
Domestic Violence Commission of Pima County
South Tucson Police Department
Phoenix Police Department
Oro Valley Police Department
Northwest Fire/Rescue District
Southern Arizona Veterinary Medical Association
And veterinarians from around our community!
INFORMATION ON BECOMING AN ACT MEMBER ORGANIZATION
IS AVAILABLE ON THE BACK COVER OF THIS NEWSLETTER
PROTECT POLICE K9s
Help protect Tucson’s police dogs by buying them bulletproof vests. Police officers risk their own lives everyday and police dogs are being injured and killed more frequently than ever before. This fundraiser is attempting to raise funds to purchase bulletproof vests for all nine of the police dogs in the TPD Service Dog unit. The vests range from $650-950 apiece. Please help to protect a K-9 tragedy by giving to Protect Police K-9.
Please send donations and make checks payable to Michael A Valdez or Protect Police K-9, 2558 E Eastland, Tucson AZ 85716. Donations can also be made at any Bank One branch, Account #07119055. For more information, call 326-4904, fax 326-5328 or email valdezg@uswest.net
WHY WE DECIDED TO ACT:
By Suzanne Reeves – Senior Probation Officer
Pima County Adult Probation
“Many may ask why Adult Probation should be involved in ACT. The answer is quite simple, as we have a unique opportunity. In the course of supervising convicted criminals, officers have the chance to spend time in many at-risk homes. They can observe and report incidents of animal abuse, as well as educate those under supervision.
“Of additional relevance to one of our primary goals, protection of the community, is the known link between animal abuse and violence to humans. In order to tailor supervision to certain populations, the adult probation department has specialized domestic violence and sexual offender caseloads. Participation in an organization such as ACT is not only in concert with, but enhances our work toward supervising these difficult populations.”
As ACT’s very first seminar, this one came off with flying colors. Lots of excellent information was presented, including historical and psychological information on animal abuse; reporting options and the use of state, county and city laws; typical abuse scenarios; evidence collecting, building a successful prosecution; and mock investigations and trials. Many thanks to our full house of eager and interested participants and also to our various invaluable presenters – without ALL of you, this wouldn’t have been the success that it was! Some comments from our participants and presenters:
“This was a great opportunity to understand the different perspectives from different agencies and how a whole investigation comes together.”
“The situations presented really do happen in our county, so it was very helpful to receive instruction on how to deal with them appropriately.”
“I felt these two days were very well-spent for me and I plan on talking to many other people about this and becoming a more active advocate in recognizing animal abuse.”
“This conference was very enlightening – It should be mandatory for all officers, patrol and detectives.”
FUTURE TRAININGS
National Animal Control Association Training:
NACA 100 – Level I Training – Phoenix, Arizona
January 8-12, 2001
Programs designed for Animal Control Officers at the federal, state, and local levels, Police Officers, and Sheriff’s Deputies responsible or animal control and all of its many facets. Topics to be covered include: laws and legal proceedings, evidence collection, courtroom testimony and crisis intervention / officer safety. For registration materials or additional information, please contact Michael Gillingham, Program Coordinator, at 1-800-825-6505 or (573) 882-6021.
Additional trainings on animal cruelty and related subjects are available through the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Cruelty in Common Program, Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Arizona Department of Agriculture. If you are interested in future trainings or would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact the Humane Society of Southern Arizona at 321-3704, Ext. 141 or 125.
A NOTE ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER:
For those of you who used to receive the Cruelty In Common newsletter from the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, you’ll notice that this one came with a different look and under a different name. Since the creation of the Animal Cruelty Taskforce (ACT), we have talked about a newsletter geared toward the members of that taskforce, as well as law enforcement, veterinarians and other concerned professionals in the animal welfare field. Due to the extent of the overlapping content, we decided to combine these two newsletters. You will notice the same sort of articles and information that was in the Cruelty In Common newsletter, geared more toward a law enforcement audience. Please note: The Cruelty In Common and Rapid Response programs are still active – the newsletter has simply changed names. If you have any questions or comments regarding the change in format or ACT, please contact Jami McDowell at (520) 321-3704, Ext. 141.
ACT OFFICERS FOR 2001:
Detective Mike Duffey, Co-Chair
Pima County Sheriff’s Department
1750 E Benson Highway
Tucson AZ 85714
(520) 741-4751 FAX: (520) 741-4886
Michael Lent, DVM, Co-Chair
Pantano Animal Clinic
8333 E 22nd St
Tucson AZ 85710
(520) 885-3594 FAX: (520) 885-3531
Tracy Charles, Co-Secretary
Humane Society of Southern Arizona
3450 N Kelvin Blvd
Tucson AZ 85716
(520) 321-3704, Ext. 168
Jami McDowell, Co-Secretary
Humane Society of Southern Arizona
3450 N Kelvin Blvd
Tucson AZ 85716
(520) 321-3704, Ext. 141
Courtesy of
HSSAZ
3450 N Kelvin Blvd.
Tucson, Arizona 85716
Shelter Phone: (520) 327-6088
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