Programs & Resources
Animal Abuse
APA recognizes animal cruelty and fighting not only as precursor crimes to family and interpersonal violent crime, but also violent crime that should be effectively prosecuted.
Animal cruelty and fighting prosecution
APA has developed a statement of principles on the prosecution of animal cruelty crimes and maintains a national technical assistance network for prosecutors handling these cases.
APA has also partnered with various animal welfare and other law enforcement organizations to hold an annual Animal Abuse and Fighting Summit to continue to develop ideas to fight animal cruelty and fighting. If you have questions, please contact us.
- National technical assistance network
- Annual Animal Abuse and Fighting Summit
APA animal cruelty and fighting statement of principles
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Animals are sentient beings with the undeniable capacity to suffer pain.
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Every state’s criminal code recognizes animals’ capacity to suffer, with all 50 states identifying certain acts of animal cruelty as felonies.
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There is a direct link between the criminal acts of animal abuse and interpersonal violence including murder, child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse.
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Under-enforcement of animal cruelty laws is directly correlated to a host of corrosive societal ills—such as animal fighting in gangs and the harming or killing of companion animals in domestic violence situations.
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Animal cruelty, both active and passive, is a crime of violence, and as such requires a prosecutor’s full attention, with the accompanying allocation of resources to hold the offenders accountable and achieve just results.
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Prosecutors, in exercising their professional discretion, should give animal cruelty cases priority and make certain they are handled in the same professional manner as other crimes of violence.
Next 12 months
Upcoming events
Trainings, summits, and roundtables on animal cruelty and fighting prosecution.
Full event calendar →Technical assistance, resources, and the national committee
APA’s national technical assistance network connects prosecutors handling animal cruelty and animal fighting cases with peers, subject-matter experts, and practical case guidance—from charging decisions and forensic evidence to sentencing and victim-animal disposition.
The Animal Cruelty Advisory Committee brings together prosecutors, veterinarians, animal welfare organizations, and law enforcement partners to shape APA’s guidance and the annual Animal Abuse and Fighting Summit.
Animal abuse prosecution newsletter
Case law updates, training announcements, and summit news for prosecutors handling animal cruelty cases.
Join APA
APA membership connects you to a national network of prosecutors, exclusive trainings, and collaborative opportunities—including the technical assistance and partnerships that drive effective animal cruelty and fighting prosecution.