Animal control and protection personnel are concerned about animal welfare. Historically, cruelty investigation, prevention, and prosecution have been shared jointly by animal control, animal protection, and law enforcement agencies. Cooperation among these groups will best provide for the protection of animals and the successful prosecution of these cases.

Animal control agencies should be empowered to issue citations for cruelty violations and should include cruelty investigations as part of their regular activities.

The legal standards for the definition and investigation of cruelty are outlined in FL Statutes Chapter 828.073, 828.03, and 828.12.