April
2005
The Real Vegan
Police
The Satya Interview with Kristi
Adams
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Photo
of Kristi Adams by Richard Rehab
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The American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), started by aristocrat Henry Bergh, was
the first organization in the U.S. devoted to the prevention of cruelty
to animals. In 1866, the ASPCA was given the legal authority to investigate
and make arrests for crimes against animals.
Today the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement department (HLE) is the only authority
in New York City solely devoted to investigating crimes against the city’s
animal population—approximately 50,000 calls in 2004.
Kristi Adams, vegan, animal rights activist, and Special Agent for Humane Law
Enforcement of the ASPCA joined the organization in July 2004. Her first rookie
weeks of training were featured in recent episodes of the Animal Planet TV show,
Animal Precinct, which follows on duty ASPCA Special Agents.
Prior to joining the ASPCA, Agent Adams worked as a veterinary assistant in an
animal hospital and as an animal control officer in several humane societies,
including NYC Animal Care and Control. She is the proud mom of two rescued pooches,
Bruno a feisty pit bull and Brittney an ever-hungry rottweiler. Catherine
Clynehad a chance to talk with Special Agent Kristi Adams about being a Humane Law
Enforcement officer in New York City.
How did you get interested in working with animals?
Ever since I can remember I have loved animals. Growing up we had all types of
critters, dogs, cats, goats, rabbits, ducks. My parents were a big influence.
Before I was even born, my dad was a cop in upstate New York and he used to rescue
dogs. Back then a lot of small towns didn’t have animal shelters and wayward
dogs were usually euthanized in ways I don’t even want to think about.
So dad would bring home the dogs he found during his shift and we would try to
adopt them out—quite a few stayed.
Two of our goats were rescued from a horrible roadside zoo. We once rescued 13
rabbits on their way to slaughter, and spent a day fencing in part of the yard,
complete with converted dog houses and a little wooden sign that read ‘Bunny
Meadow.’ We also rescued wildlife, and when I turned 16, I received my
wildlife rehabilitator license. We had a big barn and a section of it was converted
into a ramshackle hospice. And at one time or another every bathroom in our house
has been turned into a nursery—litters of baby squirrels, rabbits, a fawn,
even skunks have all passed through the Adams house. And there is still nothing
quite like going home to visit my parents and seeing all the critters, some of
which I have literally grown up with.
It’s funny, a lot of people think I am this naive farm girl growing up
on an animal sanctuary, but it all led me to become a very compassionate, liberal
and progressive person. By growing up the way I did, I learned to identify and
understand the suffering of others. All the animals we adopted, rescued, and
rehabbed were our friends, our family. I mean we had chickens, and we did eat
their eggs, but we never ate the chickens. People don’t realize that chickens
can live to be in their 20s. I think we had the oldest chickens in the state.
What made you choose a career as a Humane Law Enforcer?
My passion for animal welfare. I became a vegetarian when I was 12 and a vegan
at 15. And I have been an avid animal activist since elementary school.
The fact is, animals don’t have anyone to speak up for them. I began watching
Animal Precinct from day one, and it has always been my dream job. I was simply
amazed and thought they were the luckiest people to go out and investigate animal
cruelty—to arrest people who abuse animals. I started taking all sorts
of classes on animal rescue, and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia
Law Enforcement Training Institute. I spent years working in veterinarian hospitals,
and in various animal shelters as an animal control officer.
I have been working hard to get where I am today and I can’t imagine myself
doing anything else. Of course there are things I don’t like about it.
It can be frustrating. I feel the punishments should be harsher. Very rarely
do people get jail time. But I feel I am now able to really help push for such
changes.
What are the most common cases that you investigate?
Skinny dogs. People, for whatever reason—can’t afford it, can’t
be bothered with it, or they feel the animal is simply not worth their time or
money—starve their dogs. Those are the most common cases: emaciated, starving
dogs. Hoarders, people who literally collect animals, are also very common. To
follow that up is a range of things, from neglect and abandonment to the fighting
of dogs or roosters to intentional physical abuse. It’s all a crime. Although
regulations vary, I believe 31 states now have laws that make certain acts of
animal cruelty felonies, while the rest are treated as misdemeanors.
Being a vegan animal lover, how do you deal with seeing the cruelty inflicted
upon these animals?
I think that it makes my job harder because I see things differently than some
of my co-workers—not that what they see is wrong or bad, I just see it
differently. Especially when it comes to the farmed animals. I see cows, chickens,
and pigs the same way I see dogs and cats—I won’t eat or wear a cat
or a cow. I fully believe that all animals deserve to live free from harm, abuse
and exploitation. I mean, this is more than saying we should treat animals well
while we exploit them, or before we kill and eat them. It says animals have the
right to be free from all human cruelty and exploitation. When I say rights,
I am not talking about giving an antelope the right to vote in elections. I simply
feel that animals have an interest in living, avoiding pain, and even in finding
happiness; and they should have those rights.
I guess in a way I also feel that my compassion helps me—makes me a stronger
person. It makes me want to go out there and fight even more to protect the animals.
I think the ASPCA is doing a good job in working with federal, state and local
policymakers to strengthen and establish new animal laws. Today, animal cruelty
is being taken more seriously, since it is now well established that cruelty
to animals is frequently the precursor to violent forms of behavior against humans.
New laws passed this year show a movement toward stricter penalties. For example,
we just arrested this guy and seized 25 fighting roosters—which had missing
combs, shaved chests and sharpened spurs—from the basement of his house.
We found syringes, vitamins and antibiotics, which often are used to treat the
cocks after they have been injured. He was charged with 15 counts of possession
of fighting animals and he could face up to a year in prison for each count if
convicted.
How do you interact with other New York law enforcement agencies?
As a whole I think we have a pretty good relationship with the New York Police
Department and other law enforcement agencies. We usually rely on their assistance
if we enter a scene and other criminal acts are taking place or if we need major
backup. Remember, the NYPD has over 40,000 officers and we only have 20.
How are your powers different than the NYPD?
First of all, we are not a city agency; we are a private nonprofit organization
funded through donations and such. We also have NY state jurisdiction giving
us the right to handle anything in the state. We have the same ability to arrest
that NYPD does, and really have all the same powers they do. If we need a search
warrant, we go through the same process they do. We collect evidence, investigate
crime scenes, and take photographs. Photos are one of the most important aspects
of a case. The animals can’t speak so the photos help get the message out
there—pictures are worth a thousand, a million words for the animals. We
have a lot of people that do plead, but cases go to trial quite often and we
usually win.
We just had a case where the guy got 30 days in jail—someone actually getting
jail time is a huge step.
How does the ASPCA differ from the other animal shelters?
For example, I worked at New York City Animal Care and Control as an Animal Control
Officer for nine months before joining the ASPCA. There we did more animal rescue—go
out onto the streets and rescue the strays, pick up sick and unwanted animals.
They don’t have arresting powers or the ability to investigate cruelty.
Usually they refer those cases to us. We work with them a lot. They are a good
organization—really moving up and heading in the right direction
Does the ASPCA euthanize animals?
We are actually putting a lot of time, money and effort into making NYC a no-kill
city. We are opposed to euthanasia unless an animal is so injured and suffering
that there is nothing you can do for them, or you have a highly aggressive animal
who is unadoptable. I consider these circumstances of euthanasia to still fall
under the no-kill label. Anyone who won’t euthanize a suffering animal
or an extremely aggressive animal, who is going to sit in a small wire cage for
the rest of their lives, is cruel. It is neglect. I wouldn’t want to live
that way. My definition of no-kill is any adoptable animal will not be euthanized.
What are some challenging and frustrating aspects of your job?
The most frustrating cases I come across are the borderline cases. If you have
a severely emaciated dog you can take immediate action. You can seize the dog,
continue the investigation and hopefully prosecute. You actually feel like you
are making progress, helping the animal and punishing the abuser. But with the
cases that are considered borderline it is not so clear cut. Like this one case
of a pit bull, who I have nick-named Parker. He is a good dog, a sweetheart,
but he is 10 years old and lives in a car lot. He has a doghouse, food and water,
and the guy comes by once a day to take care of him. But it is very minimal care—very
borderline. The dog is aggressive towards most people, so if we were to take
him, chances are he will be euthanized. I feel that these are the hardest cases.
I don’t want to take him knowing that he will be killed. He may not have
the perfect life, but who am I to say that he would be better off dead? And as
long as he has shelter, food and water, and he is not starving, injured or in
pain, there is nothing I can really do. I go and check up on him regularly. And
I am in constant contact with his owner as well.
I mean of course there are cases when you’ll see animals with choke collars
embedded deeply into their flesh, dogs who have been beaten to death, and cats
that are intentionally poisoned—those cases hurt, but at least you can
take action, do something.
What is it like being such a compassionate person and carrying a gun?
Well, I did have a difficult time when I first started gun training. I was nervous.
I mean this was the first time I had ever held a gun in my hands—a gun!
But I did get more comfortable with it as the training went on and I had a great
instructor. I definitely feel safer going onto the streets by myself having a
gun, not to protect myself against the animals, but the people. We don’t
have partners unless you are going to make an arrest or are working the night
shift, but let me tell you, some of the areas I visit are pretty bad, and having
the gun training, and mace and things like that do add a sense of security. You
feel more confident.
What has been your most rewarding case?
I can’t answer that. I think that all of my cases have touched me in a
certain way. And it’s impossible to consider any of them rewarding. Of
course I am thankful I get to help the animals out and prosecute the bad guys,
but each case is a life. I know it may sound corny, but each life touches me.
I have a spot for all of them.
Have your attitudes towards animals or humans changed since starting this job?
Oh yeah. My feelings toward animals have grown in a way that makes me feel more
connected to their pain and suffering. It’s hard to get off work and just
let things go—put their lives aside and accept the fact that I can’t
do anything else. I can’t bring them all home or wait until tomorrow to
get the paperwork needed to finish a case.
It’s funny, I have spent the greater amount of my life standing out in
the crowd: protesting the cruelties of the circus industry, preaching against
the wearing of fur, and talking ears off about the atrocities of factory farming.
All animals are equal in my mind. I am not speciesist. If anything I was a bit
biased on the part of companion animals, thinking that most of the time they
had it made. But having to spend 12 hours a day looking at dogs, cats and other
critters in miserable conditions has made me respect them and feel for them more.
As far as humans go, well, my respect level for them has dropped even more so
than it was. There are people out there who treat animals like they are objects,
like they are nothing and I will never understand that.
What is it like being filmed on the job for Animal Precinct?
When I first started being filmed I was very nervous, but excited too. I couldn’t
wait for the film crew to come out. As time goes on—I’ve been there
about eight months now—you get more used to it, and you hardly notice they
are there. I feel that Animal Precinct is a great program, it helps the animals,
it helps the ASPCA, and it provides people with a lot of information. It gives
people the courage to speak up and call someone for help.
What’s it like seeing yourself on TV?
Uhhh, the first time I saw myself on TV, I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide.
I was very embarrassed and all I can say is that I am glad I have a good sense
of humor and can laugh at myself.
How can someone get into this line of work?
If you want to get involved with working with the ASPCA and HLE, it is good to
have animal experience at a vet, shelter, or some type of law enforcement. But
I think most importantly, you must have compassion and respect for animals.
For more information on the ASPCA and Animal Precinct visit www.aspca.org.
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