The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office hosted an animal abuse investigation training on April 15 at the Rome campus of Mohawk Valley Community College. The event, organized in partnership with Humane World for Animals (formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States), marked the first time such a training was held in Oneida County.
The session drew more than 70 participants, including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, humane investigators, animal control officers, local animal rescue representatives, and veterinarians. The training covered topics such as assessing potential violations, solutions and remedies for cases of abuse, connections between animal abuse and other violent crimes like domestic violence, report writing procedures, warrant processes, evidence collection techniques, and understanding cruelty and fighting laws.
Organizers said that today’s program is approved for continuing education units by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It also meets standards set by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) and is certified through the National Certification Program (NCP).
In a statement from organizers: “The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the staff with the Humane World for Animals and the National Sheriff’s Association for making this much needed training possible.”
The event highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen responses to animal cruelty cases in Oneida County.
