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Attorney General Blumenthal
Fighting Animal Cruelty
By Cindy Mindell
HARTFORD – Six months ago, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced a countrywide crackdown on animal abuse and animal fighting.
His effort is two-prong: Together with South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, Blumenthal is co-leading the Ad Hoc Committee on Animal Cruelty, part of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The task force has been working on nationwide measures to combat animal fighting.
In Connecticut, Blumenthal launched a statewide hotline to report suspected animal abuse.
According to Blumenthal, animal fighting, including dog-fighting and cock-fighting, is a pervasive problem in Connecticut, as it is around the country. Many are familiar with the high-profile case involving Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, only one of the many criminal arrests related to animal fighting throughout the U.S. Animal-control officers around the country continuously encounter dogs, particularly pitbulls, covered in the scarring that is characteristic of dog-fighting.
"Animal fighting is the spectator sport of criminals – a despicable, indecent practice that attracts an array of other criminal activity, including drug-dealing and illegal betting," Blumenthal says. "As I became more conscious of how frequent and widespread animal abuse and cruelty are, I wanted to have a means to combat the problem."
Blumenthal and McMaster have been reaching out to their fellow attorneys general nationwide, to enlist and engage them in these efforts.
As part of the national task force, The Humane Society of the United States announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in animal fighting.
In Connecticut, Blumenthal’s office is partnering with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, which provides animal-control officers and other personnel. The hotline is designed to provide a safe and secure means for citizens to blow the whistle on animal abuse.
So far, Blumenthal reports, the hotline has received around 10 calls from people who report possible animal abuse by neighbors. Agents from local police departments or the Department of Agriculture have followed up with on-site visits. "We have not actually discovered specific instances of abuse, because we generally found that the people who may have been accused have promised that they are taking care of their animals," Blumenthal says.
In the near future, the Attorney General expects to announce new actions in partnership with The Humane Society, as a result of the National Ad Hoc Committee’s work.
The statewide hotline number is (860) 808-5180. Calls can be anonymous.
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