Humane Society University works closely with The HSUS's Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign to increase educational opportunities and training for members of the legal system, such as law enforcement and prosecutors, to put animal abusers behind bars and break up organized animal fighting rings.

While animal abuse is often hidden behind the scenes, it remains shockingly prevalent, despite the fact that it is illegal everywhere and is a felony in 45 states. Animal fighting—including dogfighting, cockfighting, and hog-dog fighting—is a particularly insidious form of animal cruelty that is on the rise in some parts of the country.

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Humane Society University is now offering three full day courses to law enforcement, criminal justice, and animal care and control professionals in order to strengthen animal cruelty and fighting convictions. Our instructors are well-seasoned, highly experienced, and dedicated individuals who will provide a wealth of information to help you win the war against animal cruelty and illegal animal fighting in your community.

Shorter sessions on specific topics regarding cruelty and fighting are available upon request for conferences and meetings.  Please contact HSU at hsu@humanesociety.org or 301-548-7731 for more information.

Courses Available

Animal Cruelty and Fighting Investigations

This course gives investigators an overview about conducting investigations of animal cruelty and fighting cases in order to strengthen cases and convictions, also includes working with state and local laws, prosecutors and the court system.

Illegal Animal Fighting Investigations

In this course, participants will learn about the history, motivations, and paraphernalia involved in illegal animal fighting as well as how to conduct interrogations and work with prosecutors and other agencies when illegal animal fighting is suspected.  The goal of this course is to enable investigators to be able to recognize and build strong cases against illegal animal fighting, specifically dogfighting and cockfighting.

Animal Cruelty Investigations

This course is an in depth primer on how to handle animal cruelty cases from start to finish.  Sections include why animal cruelty matters including its link to human violence; a review of your state’s cruelty laws and how they can be applied; how to receive complaints; key concepts such as exigent circumstances, the plain view doctrine, and search warrant procedure; step-by-step instructions for investigating and documenting complaints; and working with prosecutors and other agencies on cruelty cases.