CSI – CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION CONSULTATIONS FOR ANIMAL ABUSE

What’s your agency’s animal cruelty conviction rate?

Does your agency know how to properly start and complete a thorough humane animal abuse investigation according to all the rules and regulations you must follow and present a solid case to your district attorney?

This course will provide you with all the professional training needed in animal related cruelty cases.
The following topics will be covered:
  • Professionalism on the job
  • Communication Skills
  • Officer Safety
  • Intro to Animal cruelty Laws
  • Search and Seizure
  • When to obtain a search warrant
  • Evidence collection – crime scene investigation
  • Photographing everything!
  • What is needed in a necropsy report
  • witness testimony and tape recording
  • documentation and report writing
  • case packaging for the District attorney
  • building a relationship with the district attorney and their investigators
  • how your veterinarian can help or hurt your case
  • what to expect when you testify and how to present yourself
  • livestock investigations
  • animal fighting
  • pet store investigations and rules
  • circuses and rodeos
  • hoarders
  • exotic animal abuse
  • ritualistic animal abuse
  • family violence connection to animal abuse
  • requirements of veterinarians to report animal cruelty
  • body conditioning scoring
  • case studies
  • civil liability for humane investigators
  • How not to be a victim yourself – because there are people out there that truly hate humane investigators and what they do.
This class will be taught by Debi Denardi, former captain of animal control and humane investigator, who developed and handled all aspects 24/7 of the investigation department for the Peninsula Humane Society. A member of the San Mateo County Animal Cruelty Task Force. Meetings with other task members were held to discuss better animal laws and to bring a public awareness about animal cruelty.
Debi with her several years of experience successfully brought numerous animal cruelty cases that were not only accepted by the district attorneys office, but reached successful conclusions based on her dedication and love for animals, and her insistence on their proper care and well-being.

Here are just a few investigations:
  • Laurelwood Pet Store - Years of investigations finally closed the store and the owner was convicted.
  • Wherry Ranch - Abuse of several farm animals found in deplorable conditions including maggots and overgrown hoofs, animals removed and the owner convicted despite lies, protests and a civil lawsuit.
  • Honeybear - Severely neglected elderly golden retriever, removed from the home and placed in a better place – three owners convicted.
  • Rooster fighting – the owner employed with the United States Postal Service was found guilty and surrendered his roosters.
  • Coastal horse – the owner left the horse in emaciated condition, unattended on her property. The owner was ordered to move the horse and surrender its care to a horse facility.
  • 4-H club – bull with embedded rope halter. The second time this was done at the same location with the same owners. The owners were ordered to pay a fine.
  • Benji – a dog found severely matted. The owner surrendered the dog. The dog was placed up for adoption and found a great home.
  • Two Siberian huskies dumped at a local park by their owners in horrible conditions. Further investigation brought the owners to justice. They were ordered jail time, restitution, and ordered to not have animals.
  • Cats found in house – 87 cats. The owners surrendered all cats.
  • Rats found in house with children. All 50 rats were surrendered and CPS was notified.
  • Four year old boy purposely drops brick from second floor killing family pet. Child has a history of fire setting and inappropriate actions. CPS was called and there was no conviction due to age of child.
  • 100 rabbits found in backyard. All 100 rabbits were surrendered.
  • Roosters… roosters… roosters… some were relocated, some were surrendered, some owners were prosecuted.
  • Several cases of shot animals, cats, squirrels and even dogs.
  • Theft of a pit-bull that was reunited with his owner after a long investigation.
  • Dog tied to tree. Owner surrendered dog who didn’t want him anyway. Dog was humanely euthanized as he was deemed unsocial. Duh? Being tied to a tree its whole life – what would you expect?
  • Maggot dogs – lots of cases where older dogs were either surrendered or discovered covered in maggots. Some owners were convicted while other owners were not.
  • Man off his medication kills a cat with a golf club in his drive-way and chases a passerby who was trying to assist the cat. The man was sentenced and received treatment.
  • Emaciated cat found living in a van. Owner was found guilty of abuse.
  • Emaciated dog cases of severe neglect. All owners were found guilty.
  • Owner slams door on dog breaking both legs and then surrenders dog.
  • Owner sexually abuses kitten.
  • Owner throws cat from second story balcony after fight with girlfriend.
  • Local airline company kills 9000 turkey chicks and gets away with it.
  • Gang members intentionally allow their pit bull to attack and kill a neighbor’s cat in view of local police.
  • Owner accidentally runs over their pet cat but then leaves it without veterinary care for days until the leg becomes swollen and infected.
  • Boyfriend kicks girlfriend’s dog to death after the dog urinated on bed. Boyfriend admits guilt on tape then tries to retract admission.
  • Man poisons two horses and gets away with it.
  • Dog dies in car while caretaker goes gambling and drinking at a local casino.
  • And unfortunately the list goes on…
Animal abuse in the United States is caused by the human hand. Unless you are properly trained to collect all evidence and present a solid case to your district attorney – people will continue to abuse animals because they will think they can get away with it. The thinking is it’s only an animal. Some judges have ruled that raccoons are not animals therefore can be subject to abuse – in any manner.

Get the proper training and get out there and make a difference!