Federal law enforcement officials announced a $5,000 reward Tuesday and a new FBI tip line seeking information leading to the successful prosecution of those who violate the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, a law carrying penalties of up to seven years behind bars.
The statute, which President Donald Trump signed into law in November 2019, criminalizes participation in animal abuse, such as the making of “animal crushing” videos.
Anyone who believes they have evidence against someone suspected of breaking the law is encouraged to email the FBI at LA-AnimalCrimesTipline@ic.fbi.gov.
Successful tips include specific evidence: photographs, videos, dates, times, locations, and a description of who is committing these crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The FBI’s dedicated email account will be reviewed by the Animal Abuse Task Force, which was created last year and is led by federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in partnership with the FBI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles City Animal Control, and other state and local law enforcement officers.
The task force focuses on charging serious animal abuse crimes throughout the Central District of California, the most populous federal district in the country. The seven-county district is home to nearly 20 million residents and is composed of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, animal cruelty is one of the more destructive ills in society, and is often linked with sociopathic behavior. Cruel and abusive behavior toward animals reflects a severe lack of moral responsibility and social conscience.
Animal cruelty is sometimes linked with other criminal behavior, such as gang activity, drugs and violent anti-social behavior. Research has shown that people who inflict cruelty toward animals are more likely to behave similarly toward humans, the department said.