Wisconsin Animal Abuse/Cruelty/Neglect Defense Attorney
Wisconsin treats animal cruelty as a serious crime and cases are prosecuted aggressively. If you have been charged with animal cruelty, neglect or any form of animal abuse, you are facing the possibility of significant penalties, including imprisonment. Your defense attorney must be experienced, sophisticated, well armed with the facts and knowledgeable in Wisconsin animal cruelty law in order to serve you, efficiently and effectively. I have a background in animal agriculture, including a B.S. Degree, Agriculture---Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. My background in sound livestock practices and management, particularly in working with both dairy and beef cattle, enables me to understand your situation and develop a focused defense strategy tailored to you case.
Contact the Law Office of ROBERTA A. HECKES, today to schedule an appointment with a skilled and zealous Wisconsin animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect lawyer.
WHAT IS ANIMAL CRUELTY?
Wisconsin animal cruelty law is primarily described in Wisconsin Statues Section 951. There are two types of animal cruelty: Mistreating an Animal & Dognapping and Catnapping.
Intentionally inflicted cruelty to animals is generally violent and deliberate animal abuse, for example:
Conducting a dog or rooster fight
Cruelly or inhumanely confining an animal
Unnecessarily killing an animal
Torturing, beating, poisoning or mutilating an animal
Negligent cruelty to animals is failing to provide adequate care, for example:
Failing to treat a pet's wounds or illness
Failing to provide water or food
Failing to providing sanitary living conditions
Failing to provide adequate shelter
Dognapping & Catnapping
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PENALTIES FOR ABUSE/CRUELTY TO ANIMALS?
Crimes against animal penalties can range from a misdemeanor to a felony charge. There can be multiple charges based on the number of animals or the length of time that the state claims are involved. The penalties can range from a fine to serving time in prison. A conviction may also result in loss of your animals, whether your beloved pets or income producing farm animals. A court has the power to deny you the right to own or possess any animals in the future.
WHEN IS ANIMAL ABUSE CHARGED AS A FELONY?
The number of animals or type of alleged abuse/mistreatment involved is often a determining factor in the prosecution's decision to file animal abuse charges as either a misdemeanor or a felony. If only one animal is involved, a felony charge is less likely, unless the animal has been horrifically harmed. Rescue shelters, breeders and other facilities where many animals are kept run the greatest chances of more serious charges being filed.
WHY ARE ANIMAL CRUELTY/NEGLECT CHARGES SO SERIOUS?
The sheer emotional power of the presentation of harm to animals in a trial cannot be minimized. Judges and juries can be expected to act emotionally to evidence of harm to animals, especially domestic animals like dogs or cats. Wisconsin judges have not hesitated in sentencing defendants to state prison for the abuse of animals-these cases are taken very seriously.
WISCONSIN ANIMAL CRUELTY/ABUSE DEFENSE
In many large cities, a special task force may exist to deal with animal cruelty cases. Most cases are prosecuted by the District Attorney's Office in your county. Humane officers can obtain a search warrant for your property, whether it is your backyard or farm. Once officers enter your property, either humane officers or law enforcement can take your pets or livestock. Once authorities take your animals you can be ordered to pay for their care and veterinary treatment. Your beloved pets can be placed for adoption or your farm animals can be disposed of by whatever means authorities find convenient. The aggressive prosecution of suspected animal abusers is strongly supported by the public. If you have been charged with animal abuse or cruelty, having an experienced attorney who knows animal cruelty law and knows how these cases can be aggressively defended is imperative.
HOW ATTORNEY ROBERTA A. HECKES CAN HELP YOU DEFEND ANIMAL CRUELTY/NEGLECT CHARGES.
Animal cruelty cases are complicated, but there are various ways to achieve a successful defense. For example, the local humane officer or constable often gathers information for obtaining search warrants by walking through yards and looking through fences. These searches raise serious Fourth Amendment issues (the Constitutional right to be free from illegal searches and seizures.) At the Law Office Roberta A. Heckes, I go beyond basic defense strategies to help my clients avoid fines, imprisonment and the other costs associated with being arrested for the neglect or abuse of animals. If any evidence is obtained illegally, I will make every effort to have the evidence suppressed and the case dismissed. I will work aggressively to have your case successfully resolved and protect your right to your animals, whether it is your beloved house pet or your farm livestock.
Contact my office online or call 888-703-2826 to discuss your case.
