In a big win for animals and animal lovers everywhere, the FBI will now begin tracking animal cruelty cases via the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and reports from local agencies, according to CatChannel.com.
Formerly, animal cruelty cases were classified under “all other offense” and they were difficult to track because a variety of local law enforcement agencies, animal control officers and humane society agents enforced animal cruelty laws. Under the inclusion, animal cruelty will be an offense in a distinct category simlar to that of murder, assault and arson crimes.
Simply put, animal cruelty is now a “crime against society” and this new classification should motivate law enforcement agencies to pay greater attention to animal cruelty cases – particularly those within the four categories: simple/gross neglect, intentional abuse and torture, organized abuse and animal sexual abuse.
