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Animal Cruelty Investigation Workshop Includes Visit to Farm Sanctuary

Montour Falls, NY - October 18, 2004 - The New York State Humane Association and the Schuyler County Sheriff's Department co-sponsored an Animal Cruelty Investigation Workshop, held Saturday, October 16 at the Academy of Fire Sciences in Montour Falls. Speakers included Harry Hovel, Ph.D.; Susan McDonough, a retired NYS Police Investigator; Holly Cheever, DVM; and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hayden.

The workshop was held for police officers, human law enforcement personnel, animal control officers, and citizens interested in their role in investigating animal cruelty and how to work in cooperation with police and veterinarians. Special attention was made to the fact that police must enforce Article 26, which is NY's animal anti-cruelty laws, but that animal control officers cannot enforce it, and SPCA's may enforce it.

Dr. Hovel addressed the correlation between animal abuse and human violence. Thirty years of speaking experience on humane issues made for a very informative and riveting speech. Susan McDonough has spent a quarter of a century investigating animal cruelty cases and training State Police recruits and police departments. Her slide show and discussion were loaded with case histories and detailed descriptions on how to correctly file an animal cruelty complaint in accordance with Article 26 of the Agriculture and Markets Law. Graduating number one in her veterinary class, Holly Cheever, DVM, gave a highly thought-provoking talk on how to effectively work with a veterinarian on animal cruelty cases. Dr. Cheever, focused on the 'macro to micro' approach to successfully documenting an animal cruelty case. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hayden spoke about the legal issues surrounding search warrants, the collection of evidence, and preparing the case for court.

Three representatives of Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization, attended the workshop. Afterwards, a trip was organized for interested parties to visit Farm Sanctuary to see what healthy, humanely treated farm animals should look like.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.