City Attorney Wes Duncan Announces training hosted by Sparks City Attorney's Office and the Humane Society of the United States regarding Animal Cruelty and Family Violence

Sparks, NV - Today, City Attorney Wes Duncan announces his office is hosting a training with the Humane Society of the United States. The training will occur November 13, 2023, and is being offered virtually for stakeholders across the state to participate.

The training will focus on giving prosecutors and law enforcement personnel training on the significant correlation between animal cruelty and other violence, unique considerations for animal-related investigations, and the connection between animal abuse and lethal crimes.

"Animal cruelty is a shocking crime that preys on innocent animals who cannot otherwise protect themselves. Additionally, the nexus between animal cruelty and other heinous crimes such as domestic violence and child abuse is very strong, but not always readily apparent when doing criminal investigations," said City Attorney Wes Duncan. "This training will be important not only in protecting animals, but also giving prosecutors and law enforcement the tools needed to detect and deter other violent crimes. We are thankful to the Humane Society for its willingness to train personnel in Nevada on these important topics," said Duncan.

"The Humane Society of the United States is thrilled to be partnering with the Sparks City Attorney's Office to bring this important training to Northern Nevada and share it with law enforcement professionals across the state. It shows a true commitment to protect not only the people in our communities, but the animals too," said Rebecca Goff, Nevada State Director for the Humane Society of the United States.

The training is part of a broader initiative City Attorney Duncan launched for fighting domestic violence in August 2022. The "End the Silence of Domestic Violence" initiative emphasizes the passage of new laws, training law enforcement officers on proper techniques to gather evidence for the prosecution of domestic violence and emphasizing giving voice to victims and survivors of domestic violence.

The Sparks City Attorney's Office is planning to hold future trainings with the Humane Society of the United States in 2024.

Media Contact and On Camera Interview Requests from the Sparks City Attorney's Office:

Roxanne Doyle
Legal Secretary to the City Attorney
[email protected]
(775) 353-2324

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