Article:
Trained on Animal Cruelty Investigation Skills and Ready to Go!
Hustling to get good seats, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, and others including a probation officer and an emergency management official, made their way into the training room at the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office on May 7, each of them eager to hone their animal cruelty investigation skills.
The capacity crowd came from as far away as Suffolk, Onondaga, and Kings Counties. Why all this interest? Because knowing how to effectively investigate animal cruelty is a hot topic, as cases appear to be on the upswing. Though it is not clear whether there is actually an increase in cases or whether it seems that way because of the importance animals have come to occupy in American culture. Regardless, people are demanding that something be done when they witness animals being abused or neglected – and they want it done now.
Concerned citizens reach out to local authorities for help, but because there is no comprehensive, hands-on police training provided by the Agriculture and Markets Department or municipal authorities, police are left puzzling out the cruelty laws to know what to do. And why is this so? Because police are trained on the Penal Law where the cruelty laws aren’t — and not on the Agriculture and Markets law where the cruelty laws actually are. Police want to help, but they are not sure how.
The Saratoga workshop was held to help fill that void, to give officers the tools they need. Retired State Police Investigator Sue McDonough has taught workshops across the state with NYSHA for over 25 years and spent over 20 years out in the field dealing with animal cruelty cases. She brings the laws to life by citing hands-on examples, ranging from cruel animal hoarding to dog fighting, the starving of horses, to the unjustified killing of wildlife; she has dealt with them all.
Bringing to bear the importance of veterinary expertise, Dr. Steve Naile, also experienced with animal cruelty cases, explained what to look for when investing a complaint about neglected horses — from observing and documenting their body condition to noting the environment in which they are kept. And he also points to what to look for: is there hay and grain, where are the feed receipts, is there potable water, are the hooves long and turned up? When is the last time the animal saw a vet or farrier? Both he and Sue advised officers to bring a veterinarian with them if possible when investigating to get a professional opinion and always to document with photos and witness statements, to provide evidence for police to request a search warrant.
Along with the hands-on instructors, Saratoga County ADAs, Terry Northrup and Rachel Phelan, brought their prosecution expertise in animal cruelty to the fore, informing attendees how to make the best case possible for them to take to court. They suggested that officers consider other charges in addition to cruelty, such as criminal mischief which would be relevant when a person damages the property of another, and yes, animals are considered property. They emphasized the importance of obtaining a court order at sentencing that prevents the convicted person from harboring or owning any animals for a long period of time as part of the person’s sentence. They also pointed out that if there is an Order of Protection issued in the case, that animals be included, as it is well known that angry people often harm animals as a means to instill fear in others.
Sometime after the workshop, we contacted a sampling of attendees to see if they used what they had learned and were thrilled to hear the following from officers. From a Deputy, “The workshop sharpened and honed my knowledge base to investigate these cases. Make it a yearly event.” From another, “Am considering adding Criminal Mischief to the animal cruelty charges and now will add animals to my Orders of Protection.” And one of the best outcomes: “We’ve had success in several animal cases and other police have reached out to us.” Officers helping officers — just great!
Conclusion: Yes, NYSHA’s training workshops result in more animal cruelty being investigated and prosecuted and animals removed from horrid circumstances. Yes, our training is making a difference and that matters.
Please continue to support NYSHA and if you see cruelty occurring, do something! Call the police or SPCA and insist that something be done. If they need help, refer them to the NYSHA website where we have assembled comprehensive information to aid police, from an Investigating Animal Cruelty in New York State manual to a top notch video presentation on animal cruelty investigation. And they can also call NYSHA. We will help!
New York State Humane Association Humane Review, Vol. XLVI, Fall 2025.