Watch CBS News

SPCA: Nassau Animal Crimes Unit Should Be Model For Country

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The Nassau County District Attorney's office has a special unit dedicated to animal crimes, and some say it should be a model for the entire country.

"In Nassau County, it's a very unique relationship between the District Attorney's office and the SPCA," said Gary Rogers of the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "People know that animal cruelty is taken very seriously."

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas described how the unit works to WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.

"Other offices, if they have a case, they are very reactive to it. We decided that we were going to create our own animal crimes unit; that we were going to have animal crimes prosecutors on call, and we would have retired detectives who are working in our office," she said.

Singas said the unit also does a lot of outreach, talking to those who run shelters.

The Nassau County Legislature two years ago also passed a bill to establish and online registry of people convicted of animal abuse.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.