Barriers and Opportunities for Addressing Cases of Animal Cruelty and Neglect 

Objectives:

We are conducting interviews of animal cruelty investigators, law enforcement, and district attorneys in CO as well as other states to understand:

1. What factors enable animal cruelty and neglect cases to be successfully addressed?
2. What are the barriers or challenges to being able to investigate and effectively address cases of animal cruelty and neglect?
3. What is the extent and role of mental health challenges and recidivism in animal cruelty and neglect cases?
4. What are limitations to animal cruelty statutes, and what changes to the statute would address the barriers to animal cruelty and neglect cases?
5. What resources or programs are needed to more effectively address cases of animal cruelty and neglect?

Funders/Collaborators: ASPCA Research Grants (funder), Colorado Humane Society (collaborator)

Products:

• Read our peer-reviewed manuscript on law enforcement perspectives in Colorado here: Niemiec and Kogan 2024
• Read our report of results from Colorado here: AHPC Report on Animal Cruelty Cases in Colorado