What happens when a para-legal, an attorney, and a veterinarian join forces to help bring animal abusers to justice? Miracles, apparently.

Several years ago, local attorney Claudine Wilkins realized that Georgia had a serious problem. Even though the legislature had passed the Animal Protection Act of 2000, a law that made animal cruelty a felony, the truth was that very few of these cases were getting prosecuted. To combat this problem, Claudine developed a training program geared toward law professionals that would teach them not only how to prosecute animal cruelty but why it was important to do so. From her experience as a prosecutor in domestic violence cases, Claudine knew that violence toward animals is often a signal that there are other problems in a home. "It's a red flag," she says. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States estimates that in about 1/3 of all animal abuse cases, there is simultaneous child or spouse abuse going on as well.

Claudine was ready to conduct her free trainings but when she asked her boss to let her begin he flatly refused. That prompted Claudine to quit her job and start her own law practice, with the hope of doing her seminars in her spare time. But it never got off the ground.

Around the same time, James West, a former paralegal, founded Georgia Legal Professionals for Animals, Inc. (GLPA). He needed a like-minded attorney to help lead his group. "I found Claudine through the Animal Legal Defense Fund referral list," says James. When he asked her to work with him, Claudine seized the opportunity.

Also tapped for a position was Dr. Melinda Merck, a Roswell veterinarian who on her own had been conducting exhaustive research into the field of animal forensics. Her goal had been to teach fellow veterinarians how to properly handle an animal who'd been abused in order to help police build a case for prosecution. "This isn't something
we're taught in vet school," says Merck.

These three joined forces and conducted the first "How to Prosecute Animal Cruelty from Start to Finish" seminar in February, 2003. Since then, they've trained over 1000 attorneys, police, animal control officers, and veterinarians the skills needed to successfully prosecute a case of animal cruelty.

In 2003, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals nationally recognized the group with the Grand Prize in their annual Pet Protector Award. Anne-Marie Lucas, the star of Animal Precinct, flew to Atlanta to present the group with a
check for $10,000.

But the biggest benefit has been for the animals. Since GLPA started conducting
their seminars, there's been a significant increase in the number of animal cruelty prosecutions in Georgia. For these three pioneers, the victory is bittersweet."Animal cruelty is a crime," says Dr. Merck. "It's taken a long time for it be viewed seriously."

GLPA can be found on the internet at www.georgialpa.org. Donations are tax
deductible.

Kelly L. Stone is a writer who lives in Lawrenceville. To contact her email kellystone@kellylstone.com