How to Investigate Animal Cruelty in NY State – A Manual of Procedures
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Appendix III
The following agencies may be of interest to you during the course of investigating animal cruelty complaints.
Some agencies can provide you with information and possibly assist in your cruelty investigation. Based on the nature of the complaint, some agencies can bring their own charges against the abuser. In the case of the American Kennel Clubs, it can remove a breeder’s accreditation.
American Humane Association
63 Inverness Drive West
Englewood, CO 80112
(800) 227-4645
Information about the national cruelty investigators training program
American Kennel Club
Investigations and Inspections Unit
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 696-8257
Inform the AKC about animal cruelty cases that involve dog breeders selling AKC registered dogs. The AKC can remove the breeder’s accredidation.
American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
424 E. 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128
(212) 876-7700
Assistance with cruelty investigations in NYS. Can also provide legal guidance in cruelty cases.
· For guidance in cruelty investigations ask for “Humane Law Enforcement.”
· For legal guidance ask for “Legal Department General Counsel.”
Animal Legal Defense Fund
1363 Lincoln Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 459-0885
Expertise in prosecution of animalrelated crime. The attorneys listed below can be of assistance in NY state.
Mr. Todd Davis, Kings County District Attorney
Municipal Building, Brooklyn, NY 10024
(718) 250-2001
Ms. Jill Mariani, District Attorney, County of New York
8125 Surrey Place, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432
(212) 335-9143
Animal Rescue League of Boston
PO Box 265
Boston, MA 02117
Humane Law Enforcement Unit (617) 426-9170
Expertise in ritual and cultrelated crime. Will provide information and guidance in cases involving cultrelated animal cruelty.
County Health Departments
Contact your local county health department for assistance in animal cruelty cases that involve problems that may endanger human health, such as vermin, ground water pollution, and suspected rabies.
Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC
(202) 452-1100
Can provide expert information on animal behavior and animal cruelty which can be used in cruelty investigations. Call and ask to be directed to the person that has expertise in the desired area.
Humane Society of the United States
MidAtlantic Regional Office
Bartley Square 270 Route 206
Flanders, NJ 07836
(201) 927-5611
Can provide guidance with cruelty investigations in New York State and can possibly provide an investigator to assist.
NYS Department of Agriculture
Animal Industry
1 Winners Circle, Albany, NY 12235
(518) 457-3502
Responsible for interpreting laws regarding animal cruelty, dog control, dog licensing; also conducts inspections of animal shelters. Can provide you with the most uptodate copy of Article 26, containing the animal cruelty laws.
NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation
Contact the regional office listed in your local telephone book for animal cruelty cases involving wildlife. Also contact them in cases involving air pollution. See “Environmental Conservation Law, New York Code of Rules and Regulations, Chapter III, Air Resources” in the “Various NYS State Laws Dealing With Animals” section.
United States Department of Agriculture APHIS
Regulatory Enforcement & Animal Care
2568-A Riva Road ySuite 302
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dr. Mary Geib, Supervisory Animal Care specialist for New York area
(410) 962-7463
Contact the USDA when you have a cruelty case involving animal breeders, animal dealers, etc. Such enterprises must be licensed by the USDA and operated according the standards established by the Animal Welfare Act.
Document your case and contact them. Present them with your findings. See “USDA Law and Animal Cruelty” in the “Various NYS Laws Dealing With Animals” section.