Animal welfare investigators in Hernando and four other counties will be able to share resources and animal cruelty-related intelligence thanks to a task force established by the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court.
Announced by State Attorney Bill Gladson, the court’s Animal Cruelty Task Force will allow law enforcement, animal services, and other animal protection organizations in Hernando, Citrus, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties to work together to bring animal cruelty cases before the court. Other members of the Task Force include the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Denise Moloney, public relations manager for the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), said that the task force would help agencies throughout the area conduct successful animal cruelty crime investigations.
“The task force will allow us to expand our reach, when and if resources or assistance is needed, and will provide us the opportunity to offer assistance to share any resources we have,” Moloney said. “ It will also allow more intelligence sharing between entities, whereas crime patterns occurring over multiple jurisdictions can be identified and addressed. ”
According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), animal cruelty is commonly linked with violence against people, including domestic violence and criminal enterprises such as illegal slaughter farms and dog fighting.
Florida ranks seventh in the nation in terms of the strength of its anti-cruelty legislation, the ALDF said.
