Do you have the same powers as a regular cop?

Great question, Todd! The answer is both yes and no. The police department is a city agency, while the ASPCA is a private nonprofit organization funded through donations. But we do have the same ability the police department does to arrest people and do other important things to solve crimes. If we need a search warrant, we go through the same process they do to get one. We also collect evidence, investigate crime scenes and take photographs. Photographic evidence is actually one of the most important aspects of a case. Animals can’t speak, so the photos help get the message out there. In cruelty cases, pictures are not worth a thousand, but a million words!