Northeast Kansas Animal Welfare Foundation pursues justice for mistreated animals with Cruelty Stoppers
A new program developed by the Northeast Kansas Animal Welfare Foundation is working to reduce animal violence in 23 Kansas counties.
Bill Acree, formerly of the Helping Hands Humane Society, takes on a new role as president and CEO of the welfare foundation. The project is called Cruelty Stoppers.
Cruelty Stoppers opens the door to care for abused animals that can be linked to domestic violence cases that occur at home, while trying to create better relationships between local shelters and the Topeka Police Department.
"In the past," Acree said, "cruelty wasn’t getting the follow-through. We patterned this Cruelty Stoppers program after Crime Stoppers on TV. Upon resting convictions of a person who is abusing the animal, we will reward that person for coming forward.”
Acree said the Shawnee County district attorney and sheriff, and the Topeka interim police chief backed Acree on the need for the program. He said many animals are abandoned or neglected across Kansas.
'Statewide, it would be wonderful if we could stop animal abuse'
"We would need a bigger staff," Acree said. "Statewide, it would be wonderful if we could stop animal abuse."
But the abuse can't stop without a public act of informing the police about a crime.
"That's where we step in and say: 'We would like to reward you for the word you gave that led to this (arrest),'" Acree said. "Obviously, to arrest and convict a dog-fighting ring would be worth a lot more money than someone who tied up their kitty in a sack and threw it over the bridge."
With animal shelters running at a higher capacity ever before, the Helping Hands Humane Society cares for 302 cats and 163 dogs, said Emi Griess, communications coordinator, and Grace Clinton, director of business development and special events.
"This program of stopping animal abuse has never been a priority for them," Acree said. "Shelters don't have time to worry about this."
Kerry Crotinger, chair of NKAWF, said abusing other people can begin with mistreating animals. He said this was a broader issue connecting crimes from animal to human.
"Now that people are aware," Crotinger said, "when they know that there is a program like this out there, they are better able to assist a local shelter. Everything goes back to attacking the innocent or the ones not willing to speak for themselves because that dog or cat can't make a phone call."
'I think it will be a huge step for Kansas'
Acree and Crotinger call upon local high school students and veterinary students to apply for funding to receive training about the connection between abuse in animals and violence towards humans.
"If we can make a dent in domestic violence," Acree said, "then wow, what has this whole program done?"
Midge Grinstead, state director for The Humane Society of the United States, said she is excited for Acree's project to come to fruition. She has worked with animal shelters across Kansas for more than 25 years.
"I’ve worked across the state," Grinstead said. "Over the years, I have worked with lots of organizations and I think this will foster us all working together, which is what it’s all about."
Grinstead said animals become apart of people's lives by entering their homes. She said the animals can also become tools of abuse.
"I think that a lot of people don’t understand animal violence is doesn't just live in a box," she said. "It grows from there. I think there’s a lot to learn from how everything is connected."
Acree said he is planning to announce new programs in 2022. Grinstead has ideas of her own as well.
“I have been wanting to start an animal cruelty task force in Kansas," Grinstead said. "I think it will be a huge step for Kansas.”