MORLEY SWINGLE WITH CHARLOTTE CRAIG

Animal abuse and neglect are crimes in Missouri. Animal abuse occurs when a person intentionally injures or kills or causes suffering to an animal. Animal abuse or neglect can also occur when a person fails to provide adequate care or control of an animal in his custody so that it is not receiving wholesome food, water, shelter and health care, or so that it is not reasonably restrained and ends up injuring itself, any person, any other animal, or someone’s property. Seldom a year goes by that our office does not prosecute a case where some unfortunate animal has been horribly abused or neglected.

Charlotte Craig, the head of the County Health Department, and a confessed animal-lover, has often brought animal abuse and neglect cases to the attention of the prosecutor’s office.

Missouri law provides that search warrants may issue for law enforcement or public health officials to enter upon private property to search for abused or neglected animals when those officials can show probable cause to believe a violation of the statute is occurring.

The prosecutor’s office has developed standard forms to use for obtaining these search warrants.

If you are aware of animal abuse occurring in Cape Girardeau County, please contact the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department or the County Health Department or the Prosecutor’s Office. If you are aware of animal abuse occurring elsewhere in the State, please contact the appropriate local law enforcement agency or the Missouri Humane Society, or contact the Humane Society by phone at (314) 647-8800.