Creating An Animal Task Force in Your County or City

Sherwin FigueroaAssistant District Attorney

Cobb District Attorney’s Office

A group of people with a single mission◦ Mandated or single

person/organization initiative Who are the people?◦ Multi-disciplinary: Law enforcement,

Animal Control, Prosecutors, Veterinarians

◦ Non-traditional: lay/concerned citizens, faith based leaders

◦ And…backups What is the mission?◦ Set systems in place everyday

operations◦ For disaster/crisis intervention

What is a Task Force?

•Benefits• Reduced transactional costs• Communication• Prepared• Power

Identify “stakeholders” Be inclusive not exclusive◦ Be creative

Not just domestics, farm/exotics Rescue/Charity groups “Concerned citizens” Elected officials Press/bloggers People who own victim-animals

Written letter, meeting in person, asking influential leaders to invite others for you◦ Do follow ups (always have a sign in sheet), for anyone who

expresses interest Ask “How can our task force help you?”

Who should we include? How?

LAPD ◦ Its mission is to break the connection between animal abuse and human violence. It is

also the ACTF’s mission to educate the diverse communities within Los Angeles about the significance of animal cruelty, neglect, and/or abuse. Since its inception, there have been 31felony and 14 misdemeanor arrests involving animal cruelty.

Taskforce of Southern Arizona (ACT) ◦ has worked towards educating the community – both the general public and law

enforcement – about the animal cruelty felony law in Arizona (ARS 13-2910). ACT also brings together different law enforcement agencies in the community to serve as a clearinghouse for ongoing cases and tips that may otherwise not be connected.

ST. Louis◦ Bike Patrol is a new program from the Humane Society of Missouri designed to take a

proactive approach to preventing animal abuse and educating the community about proper animal care by offering one-on-one interactions during patrols 

Ohio◦  three main pillars as an organization:  Education, Assistance, Enforcement

Vermont◦ statewide task force to evaluate the state of animal cruelty investigation and response

in Vermont.

Examples of Animal Task Force Missions

Mission statement Cobb Domestic Violence Task Force◦ It shall be the mission of the Cobb County Domestic

Violence Task Force (hereby referred to as the “Task Force,”) to ultimately work towards eliminating domestic violence through creating and fostering a cooperative relationship between members and the community; by establishing and reviewing uniform policies and procedures to address the protection of victims and children and the prevention and intervention of batterers; and by educating the members, victims, and the general public regarding the issue(s) of domestic violence and its long term effects.

Tackle Common Problems and “hard stuff”◦ Untrained investigations and lacking prosecutions ◦ Poor Testifying on the stand and report writing◦ Lack on resources/space/money/etc◦ Expediting animal cases through the criminal justice system

Review cases ◦ Asses what was done, how could you improve next time, etc

Obtain reports, follow cases arrest to trial Send findings to prosecutors, animal control, or police

◦ Set Protocols/roadmaps or goals for agencies to strive for Educate◦ “Go to”◦ Print and pass out literature ◦ Offer free trainings, speakers◦ View movies/documentaries

Make Sub Committees with targeted goals Send your meeting minutes to community leaders, will show your

productivity and educate

Things to do

Very important to include Dept of Agriculture ◦ for license issues and inspection warrants◦ Non-domestic animals

Include Judges/Prosecutors, or people who can help you get to Judges/Prosecutors◦ Important for the implementing your

ideas/protocols What should law enforcement on

Sundays/Holidays?◦ Have go-to contacts available◦ Backups

Communication◦ Make sure “stakeholders” or people in the

“system” are aware of your suggestions/protocols

Things to Consider

Once organized, consider bylaws, voting structures

Apply for Grants or ask for Donations

Reach out to other task forces

Ideas for meetings◦Speaker, who they are, what

they do, etc◦Read materials and discuss

(articles/studies/etc)

Georgia Commission on Family Violence◦www.gcfv.org

Cobb County Domestic Violence Task Force

Credits