On July 31, the Humane Society of the United States, in collaboration with the Kansas Animal Control Association, hosted a training webinar for 27 Kansas law enforcement officers. The online course was designed to provide officers with the skills necessary to effectively investigate animal cruelty in pet stores.
Pet stores that sell animals but fail to provide proper care are often the subject of complaints to law enforcement agencies after buyers discover their new puppy is severely ill. In many of these cases, buyers face exorbitant veterinary bills and emotional distress. In the training officers were taught how to address these challenges, learning about the various regulations and laws that impact animal-selling retail stores, proactive approaches to mitigating harm to buyers, and considerations for assessing violations of law.
“The Humane Society of the United States is proud to partner with the Kansas Animal Control Association to bring this free training to Kansas law enforcement agencies,” said Midge Grinstead, Kansas state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We hope this class provides critical tools for handling reports of cruelty in pet stores and helps protect consumers from being victimized by unscrupulous sellers.”
“The Kansas Animal Control Association supports its members and animal welfare employees in Kansas by providing low-cost training on animal issues,” said Amber Bowlby, president of the Kansas Animal Control Association. “We are excited to team up with the Humane Society of the United States to offer this class at no charge and to learn more about how to handle these types of cases.”
The Humane Society of the United States’ Law Enforcement Training Center provides training to thousands of law enforcement officers each year on investigating and prosecuting illegal animal cruelty and fighting. Trainers are former and current law enforcement officers with expertise in animal abuse crimes. The LETC offers various courses on different topics and works with agencies to provide customized courses.
If you have purchased a puppy and wish to report problems to the HSUS, please submit a complaint through our online complaint form.