What we investigate

Our Humane Investigations staff consists of two full-time agents. 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 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
Dogs riding in the back of trucks (currently not illegal in the state of Minnesota)