By: Sharon Miller, Director of Animal Control, Baltimore City Health Department

Baseball season in Baltimore is not the only reason to “Go Orange” in April.  April is also the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month when supporters are urged to raise awareness about the problem by “Going Orange for Animals.”  Baltimore City Health Department Animal Control Officers will join the effort in by wearing orange ribbons this month to bring attention to the issue while performing their normal duties.

The Baltimore City Health Department has an obligation to safeguard the health and welfare of both human and animal residents of the city.  Our Office of Animal Control receives approximately 24,000 calls for service a year.  Of those calls, approximately 5,000 are classified as “Animal In Danger” and, among other things may include dogs inhumanely chained in a rear yard, sick and injured animals, animals left in extreme weather and animals that appear malnourished.  It is very important that the Office responds to and investigates each call. The reason for this is not just the prevention of suffering of the animals involved, but because there is a demonstrated link between animal abuse and neglect and other acts of violent and anti-social behavior. 

Research and evidence show that people involved in violent acts against animals present a danger to the public. Intentional animal abuse is often seen in association with other serious crimes including drug offenses, gang activity, weapons violations, sexual assault and domestic violence—and can be one of the most visible parts of an entire history of aggressive or antisocial behavior. These cycles of violence often start with animal abuse—and they must be stopped.

Recognizing this, the Office of Animal Control works closely with the Baltimore Police Department and the States Attorney’s Office in investigating suspected cases of neglect and abuse.  The collaborative relationship has led to an aggressive investigative approach which has resulted in an increase in felony arrests and prosecutions, including the indictment in December 2014 of 22 persons on abuse and neglect charges related to alleged dogfighting activities.

On April 8th, National Dog Fighting Awareness Day was recognized, but each and every day we need the help of all Baltimoreans to “Get Tough” on dog fighting. This brutal form of animal cruelty, linked closely to other criminal activity occurs across our city and the fight to break that cycle of suffering must be stopped.

Last February, the ASPCA provided training on dogfighting for both Baltimore Police Department and BCHD Animal Enforcement Officers.  They also awarded the Office of Animal Control a $5,000 grant to send officers to a “Fighting Animal Cruelty with Forensics” workshop at the University of Florida.

The training covered a wide range of topics such as forensic photography and detection of animal crime scenes.  The workshop provided the officers with additional expertise in investigative techniques to continue the upward trend of successful prosecutions, especially as cases become more complex.

Animal abuse and neglect are serious crimes, so serious that the FBI announced last fall that it would begin tracking cases the same way it does other Group A felonies such as homicide, arson and assault.  This change in classification means that nationwide data will become available which will in turn help law enforcement and legislators at all levels of government to fully grasp the scope of the problem.  The data can be used to strengthen prevention efforts, to bolster anti-cruelty laws and to better target resources.

Please join in this fight and wear orange with us this month… and of course, Go O’s.

Animals rely on the community to help protect them, please report animal abuse by calling 911 for an incident in progress or 311 if you suspect someone is neglecting or abusing an animal.