ASPCA COPS

[Evan]

While watching tv with my son, we came across and started watching Animal Planet. The show on at the time was "Animal Precinct". This show was sort of a live action reality "Cops" for the Officers of the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Dept.
At first, I was thinking, What the hell? Are these guys for real? They actually have uniformed, badge wearing, gun toten cops that are empowered to investigate and have powers of arrest for animal cruelty laws. My thinking then went to " Got to be yanking my chain".
I thought that the ASPCS is a social service, non profit agency. Are they not? I did not know that such a agency could establish their own "law Enforcement" force. Who pays for these officers? The State of N.Y., the city of N.Y. or the ASPCA?
The animal lovers ought to love these guys, Only in New York!! Being form the Rocky Mnt. West, I'm used to seeing officers such as Brand Inpectors and livestock investigators from the State.

[Mitzi]

These people are very dedicated and do their jobs well. Some of the stuff I see on that show breaks my heart. They can't even begin to scratch the surface of the abuse in New York City but they do what they can and they do it well. The ASPCA there is very well organized. Their officers have complete arrest powers although, in tough situations, they will call in the police. And they don't suffer abusers well. I've seen arrests. I have alwatys thought the abusers should have done to them what they did to the animals and see how well they like it. But, of course, there is a demarcation line between animals and humans.
I am an animal lover and it warms my heart when I see that these animals have been saved from horrendous conditions.

[ateamer]

Here in my county, the Animal Control Officers are SPCA employees. I guess it's some kind of contract deal for the SPCA to administrate the animal control programs.