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November 2, 2009

Resources for Prosecutors

The Humane Society of the United States

At The Humane Society of the United States, we have a long history of collaborating with and training prosecutors around the country in achieving effective results to animal cruelty cases.

Prosecutors are the key to ensuring that the laws to protect animals are enforced and that the defendants who abuse animals are punished. Thank you for your hard work.

Please browse this page and take special notice of our training offerings and other resources. We can help you win your case!

—Sherry Ramsey, Esq.
Manager, Animal Cruelty Prosecutions

Training Opportunities

Could your office use training on effective animal cruelty prosecution? The HSUS provides prosecutor training in many different forms, depending on your office's size and specific needs. We offer:

  • Training for prosecutors in coordination with the National District Attorney Association
  • Training for prosecutors, individualized at state and county levels around the country by our experts in cruelty prosecution.

Contact us to set up training for your office or group.

Also, Humane Society University, the training arm of The HSUS, offers both online and live training on subjects like Animal Cruelty and Fighting Investigations, First Strike: Human/Animal Cruelty, Animal Cruelty for Non-investigators and Dog Bite Prevention for Law Enforcement and First Responders. For scheduling and other inquiries, contact hsu@humanesociety.org.

Help with Cruelty Cases

Request assistance from our cruelty prosecution experts to help your office put together a successful case. We can provide:

  • Advice and assistance with research on case law or legal issues as you prepare for trial in important cruelty cases
  • Expert witnesses such as psychologists, veterinarians, animal behaviorists and experts on the link between animal cruelty and human violence, children and the effect of animal cruelty, investigations, cruelty laws, animal fighting and many other issues
  • Reports and other information helpful in putting together a successful case

In conjunction with the Animals and Society Institute, we also maintain a list of psychologists and counselors trained to provide targeted treatment to animal abusers. 

Publications

» A Common Bond [PDF]: Maltreated Children and Animals in the Home, Guidelines for Practice and Policy
» The Empathy Connection [PDF]:  Creating Caring Communities through the Human-Animal Relationship
» First Strike [PDF]: The Violence Connection
» We also offer Illegal Animal Fighting: A Law Enforcement Primer for the Investigation of Cockfighting and Dogfighting (for law enforcement only). Please email dbartlett@humanesociety.org for access, and be prepared to verify your status as a law enforcement officer or officer of the court.

Guides and Manuals for Investigating and Prosecuting Animal Cruelty

The following investigation and prosecution guides are linked by permission and are for informational purposes only. They are the work of experts in the states specified, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The HSUS. Nevertheless, they are excellent resources for cruelty investigators and prosecutors.

Other Legal Resources