The DuPage County state’s attorney’s office is launching a new Animal Protection Unit, officials announced.
Comprised of a team of specially trained prosecutors, it will be focused on enhancing prosecutions of crimes committed against animals.
“This issue has been a priority for me for a long time,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “I’m grateful that we have the resources to implement a unit like this because I just think it’s so good for our community and our county.”
His office has seen an increase in animal cruelty cases, owner neglect cases and in the number of petitions it has had to file in civil court seeking forfeiture of animals because of cruelty or neglect, he said. As of Friday, about 35 cases concerning animal cruelty, violations of the Illinois Animal Control Act or animal endangerment were pending.
“Rather than have these cases spread out amongst different prosecutors, because they’re so important … in the community, I thought that we should have a specialized unit made up of a small group of prosecutors who are trained in these cases (and) have a specialty (so) they can really handle them from start to finish,” Berlin said.
The unit will partner with law enforcement agencies and DuPage County Animal Services — as well as the community — to provide a comprehensive, focused approach to prosecuting local animal cruelty cases, according to the state’s attorney’s office.
Further, the unit will also provide additional legal protections for those at risk of domestic violence, which can be linked to animal abuse, a news release on the new team said.
A few years ago, the Urban Resource Institute and the National Domestic Violence Hotline conducted a survey of nearly 2,500 people focused on how domestic violence affects survivors with pets and their families. Among respondents, 37% said their abuser had threatened to harm or kill a pet and 29% said the abuser had actually harmed or killed pets, per a 2021 report of survey results.
Just last week, a Naperville man was sentenced to prison after beating his family’s dog to death following an argument with his partner.
Alongside prosecution, the new Animal Protection Unit will engage in public outreach and education efforts to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership, animal welfare laws and available resources for those who need help with animal care, per the state’s attorney’s office.
Berlin said he’s hoping the unit will be able to participate in school education programs as well as train police and animal control officers across the county so local authorities are also better equipped to handle these kinds of cases. Training would include what to look for, information on animal cruelty laws, investigative techniques and appropriate handling of animals during seizures, he said.
“Hopefully, by prosecuting defendants for these crimes (and) holding them accountable, we’re going to do two things: we’re going to remove violent offenders from the street, and we’re going to deter others from doing the same thing,” Berlin said. “And that makes the community safer.
“Just like children and just like seniors, our animals are some of our most vulnerable victims. They can’t speak for themselves. We have to speak for them.”