FBI to Gather Better Data on Animal Cruelty and Neglect Starting in January 2016

    FORT WORTH, TX, January 07, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The FBI has created a new category for animal cruelty in its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). More than 6,000 state and local law enforcement agencies share crime data with the FBI as part of NIBRS to ensure crime statistics are gathered and reported in a consistent way across the United States.

Starting January 1, NIBRS will further categorize animal cruelty incidents as neglect, intentional abuse, organized abuse (dog fighting, cock fighting rings), or animal sexual abuse.

ABC Action News Reporter Carson Chambers noted that the FBI's old system of reporting lumped all incidents involving cruelty to animals into a catchall category, making tracking and analysis impossible.

FBI Spokesperson Mollie Halpern indicated that the FBI will make data it gathers about animal cruelty public starting in 2017.

"Better measurement will focus greater attention on animal neglect," said Ron Sturgeon, Founder and Senior Vice President of the National Alliance for Dog Breeding Reform (NADBR). "NADBR will continue to advocate for the dogs," he said.

"We will keep sharing relevant news with those committed to making sure that all dogs are shown kindness, treated humanely and bred using only medically sound practices," added Sturgeon.

About the National Alliance for Dog Breeding Reform (NADBR)

The National Alliance for Dog Breeding Reform is committed to ensuring that all dogs in breeding programs are shown kindness, treated humanely and bred using only medically-sound practices. For details about volunteering, visit NADBR's Facebook page or sign up for e-mail updates on the NADBR website.

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