Public safety panel hears bill to establish Office of Animal Protection

UPDATED April 12, 2024: Criminologists have long demonstrated a link between cruelty toward animals and cruelty toward humans.

Rep. Matt Norris (DFL-Blaine) elaborated on that connection Friday while presenting his bill to establish the Office of Animal Protection within the Department of Public Safety.

“We’ve all heard of serial killers torturing animals before going after people, but animal cruelty is also linked to more common crimes such as child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse,” he said.

The House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee laid over HF3799 for consideration in a larger committee bill.

Per the proposal: The office "shall seek to promote a comprehensive and measurable approach for the prevention of animal cruelty, protection of animals, enforcement of animal cruelty statutes, and education across multiple disciplines throughout the state, including but not limited to (i) investigations; (ii) prosecution; (iii) forensic veterinary medicine; (iv) animal care, transport, and housing; and (v) human welfare, as it relates to offenders or victims of animal cruelty."

The proposed office would “address animal cruelty in a more comprehensive and centralized manner” through the creation of an advisory committee that would make recommendations to local law enforcement agencies on animal cruelty investigations and reporting, victim services, crime data collection, cross-reporting, courtroom advocates, and crime prevention.

Advisory committee members would be experts in forensic veterinary medicine, investigations, prosecution, and animal care and housing, among other topics. Committee size is not specified.

Retired Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom said he prosecuted many types of animal cruelty crimes in his career, sometimes involving hundreds of animals being neglected or abused.

“These are serious issues that need to be appropriately addressed by our criminal justice system,” he said.

Backstrom also stressed the connection between cruelty to animals and violent crimes against humans. “If this is ignored, such violence can continue and become more severe.”

Jena Wasche, a Minneapolis Police Department animal control specialist, opposes the bill, arguing it lacks enforcement provisions and only puts in place an additional advisory function that is limited to providing guidance.

“Minnesota is long overdue for a statewide agency with the capabilities to enforce animal cruelty laws and provide the support needed for those negatively impacted by these crimes,” she said.

Wasche, also a state-certified investigator with Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, would support a system that uses law enforcement officers similar to how Department of Natural Resources officers enforce wildlife laws.

Several Republicans stated that they, too, would prefer that approach.

The bill would appropriate $350,000 in fiscal year 2025 to fund the office, which could give grants to state and local units of government and nonprofit organizations to promote animal protection efforts.