What we investigate

Our Humane Investigations staff consists of two-full time and one part-time investigator. Together they serve as a public resource for all animal welfare concerns. Their efforts are focused on the following areas:

• Domestic animals and livestock lacking necessary food, water and/or shelter as dictated by law
• Animal fighting and hoarding
• Physical abuse and/or chronic neglect of animals
• Confinement within a vehicle causing potential harm
• Mutilation or other serious disfigurement of animals
• Denial of necessary medical attention to animals who are sick or injured
• Illegal shooting, trapping, abandonment, poisoning, and/or torture of any domestic animal
• Potential injury of companion animals from tangled leashes, ropes or chains
• 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

Contact your local animal control or law enforcement agency for the following issues not handled by our investigations team:

• Barking dogs and nuisance
• Animals off leash or running at-large
• Animals digging in the trash
• Dangerous or vicious animals
• Dog bites
• Sanitation issues (neighbor complaint of feces in yard, etc.)
• Too many animals per your city’s ordinance
• Indigenous wildlife animal complaints
• Animals caught in trees or other places
• Animal theft (unless related to care of animal)
• Dogs riding in the back of trucks (currently not illegal in the state of Minnesota)