Humane Investigations receives approximately 2,000 - 3,000 service requests every year. Though we serve as a public resource for all animal welfare concerns, our humane officers’ main efforts are directed to these issues:
· Animal fighting organized and/or promoted by individuals as entertainment
· Animal hoarding; confinement of multiple animals in a single dwelling
· Animals lacking necessary food, water and/or shelter as dictated by law
· Physically abused or beaten animals due to culpable negligence or malicious intent
· Potential harm to animals due to confinement within a vehicle
· Skinning, mutilation or other serious disfigurement of animals
· Denial of necessary medical attention to animals who are sick or injured
· Illegal shooting, trapping, abandonment, poisoning, torture and/or burning of any domestic animal
· Potential injury of companion animals from tangled leashes, ropes or chains
· Livestock whose health and/or welfare are threatened by adverse conditions such as lack of food, water and/or shelter
· Pet stores, boarding kennels, breeder kennels, stables, etc., that have failed to provide proper maintenance facilities for its animals
· Verbal or written threats to injure, steal, or kill an animal
Issues not commonly handled by Humane Investigations and may be directed to your local animal control or law enforcement agency:
· Barking dogs/nuisance
· Animals off leash/running at-large
· Animals digging in trash/disrupting garbage cans
· Dangerous/vicious animals
· Dog bites
· Sanitation (i.e., neighbor complaint of animal feces in yard, etc.)
· Too many animals (per your particular city’s ordinance)
· Indigenous wildlife animal complaints
· Animals caught in trees or other places; wildlife/rodents/pests in your house
· Animal theft (unless related to conduct or care of animal)
· Dogs riding in the back of pick-up trucks (currently not illegal in MN)
If you have an animal welfare concern and are unsure whom to contact for help, contact us at (763) 489-2236 or investigations@animalhumanesociety.org. We investigate complaints in the Hennepin and Anoka counties, as well as other jurisdictions across the state when requested. Like all criminal cases, we must have the proper evidence and/or witnesses to successfully build a case for seizure and/or prosecution.
