How to Create an Animal Fighting Task Force

	©The HSUS
	Task forces can be effective against the cruelty of organized animal fighting.

Because organized animal fighting is a growing national epidemic, creating a local animal-fighting task force can be a particularly effective way to bring together the community to confront it.

A growing number of cities, including Los Angeles, Baltimore and Chicago, have crime-fighting units specifically focusing on organized animal fighting.

How to Get Started

Starting a task force requires long-term vision, determination and a core group of individuals dedicated to improving community saftey. Establishing a task force should begin with:

• Creating a core leadership team and inviting key people to join the task force
• Creating a mission statement and setting short- and long-term goals
• Holding a press conference to announce the formation of the task force
• Publicizing how people can report animal fighting 

Who Should Be Invited to Join the Task Force

The close connection of other crimes—violence, illegal weapons, drugs and gambling—with animal fighting means multiple agencies should be involved in dismantling dogfighting and cockfighting networks, including:

• The county district attorney
• The police or sheriff's office
• Animal control officers
• Mayor's office
• Local humane societies
• Veterinary associations
• Community organizations focused on combating violence

What the Task Force Can Do

Because animal fighting has not necessarily been prominent on the radar screens of law enforcement officials, the task force must drive home the importance of cracking down on illegal animal fighters. Long-term goals should include:

©The HSUS
Task forces can alert law enforcement to the signs of animal fighting operations.

• Teaching police and community leaders the signs of dogfighting and cockfighting
• Working with police on investigative techniques and evidence-gathering procedures
• Planning the housing and disposition of confiscated animals
• Attendiing court cases to provide testimony about why the community wants tough penalties
• Taking legislative action to increase penalties for involvement in animal fighting
   
  
  

We can offer pointers if you're not sure how to start. To discuss your plans for an animal fighting task force with an HSUS staffer, just email us.

Related Links

Dogfighting

Dogfighting Fact Sheet

Cockfighting

Cockfighting Fact Sheet

Hog-Dog Fighting

End Dogfighting in Your City