Cruelty Investigations
Contact Local Councils(for Companion Animal Neglect) PSNI(Wildlife Crime) DAERA(Agricultural Animal Cruelty)
The illegal puppy trade, animal fighting, badger baiting, wildlife crime and other horrific acts on animals are among the serious animal welfare crimes happening across Northern Ireland every day.
The USPCA’s Special Investigations Unit carries out investigations into “organised animal cruelty” - serious welfare abuses that often take place well away from the public view. The Charity defines organised animal cruelty as:
“Where the USPCA has an honest belief that one or more persons are engaged in any joint activity with another and animal cruelty or a severe adverse effect on animal welfare has occurred, is likely or is expected. The animal cruelty or severe adverse effect on animal welfare may be an intended or unintended outcome of the joint activity.”
In recent times, badger persecution, tame deer hunts, cock fighting, dog fighting, illegal puppy farms and the trafficking of pups have all been subjected to USPCA scrutiny. Information gathered through our Special Investigations Unit is passed to enforcement agencies and successful prosecutions have resulted.
