ASPCA Grants $10,000 to National District Attorneys Association

Funds will enhance special program geared toward effective handling of animal abuse cases

NEW YORK, July 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) today announced that it has awarded a grant of $10,000 to the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), which will be used to bolster its National Center for Prosecution of Animal Abuse (NCPAA) program that works to assist and train prosecutors and other professionals on the effective handling of animal abuse cases.

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"The NCPAA initiative is an instrumental resource for the nation's prosecutors as it allows them to obtain training specific to the handling of animal abuse cases, better understand the connection between violence to animals and people, and help raise awareness of animal abuse among the general public," said Dr. Randall Lockwood, senior vice president of ASPCA Forensic Sciences and Anti-Cruelty Projects. "The successful prosecution of crimes against animals often requires specialized knowledge; the ASPCA is pleased to award this grant to help the NDAA further this mission through its NCPAA program."    

The grant funding will help cover the cost of technical assistance, research, strategy discussions with prosecutors, and training requests—including a wide array of webinars. It will also be used to create a training manual for investigators and prosecutors.   

"We are very grateful to the ASPCA for providing this generous grant that will allow us to help prosecuting attorneys properly address incidents of animal abuse in their communities and hold offenders accountable," said Scott Burns, executive director of NDAA. "As one of our national partners in this effort, we look forward to our continued partnership with the ASPCA as we work to bring these important cases to the forefront of prosecution."

Thus far in 2013, the ASPCA has awarded nearly $9 million in grant funding to hundreds of organizations across the country. In 2012, the ASPCA gave more than $17 million to 1,039 organizations. To learn more about the ASPCA's Grants Program, interested animal welfare professionals can visit www.aspcapro.org/Grants. 

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation's leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

SOURCE ASPCA