Brute Force: Policing Animal Cruelty [Paperback]

Arnold Arluke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2007 | ISBN-10: 1557534500 | ISBN-13: 978-1557534507

Brute Force looks at people having the most contact with everyday animal abuse- humane law enforcement officers who are charged with enforcing anti-cruelty statutes. The author spent one year studying 30 "animal cops" and dispatchers in two large cities. They see themselves as a power for the helpless, a voice for the mute. On-the-job experience changes this view. Rather than "fighting the good fight" against egregious cases of cruelty, they are overwhelmed with complaints that are ambiguous and must be "stretched" to qualify as legally defined abuse or with complaints barking dogs or "thin" pets that are used in interpersonal disputes to get neighbors or spouses into trouble. Even more discouraging to officers are clear-cut and extreme cases of cruelty that do not lead to guilty verdicts or stiff penalties in court. Resulting cynicism is aggravated when rookies realize that they are seen as second-rate "wannabe" cops or closet animal "extremists." With little legitimate authority to enforce the law, animal cops become humane educators who try to make people into responsible pet owners.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a significant contribution to the literature on society and animals, ethnography, and social control." -- Qualitative Sociology, June 20, 2006 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Arnold Arluke is a professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Northeastern Univer­sity and senior research fellow at the Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy. His research examines contradictions underlying human-animal relationships and how people manage these inconsistencies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Purdue University Press (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557534500
• ISBN-13: 978-1557534507
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,190,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Arnie Arluke is Professor of Sociology at Northeastern University and Senior Scholar at the Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy. His research examines conflicts and contradictions in human-animal relationships. His writing has received awards from the American Sociological Association, the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction, the International Association for Human-Animal Interaction Organizations, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He edits with Clinton Sanders the Animals, Culture, and Society series for Temple University Press.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The working world of the humane law enforcement officer, October 25, 2004

By 

Fred Hafferty "FWH" (Duluth, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brute Force: Policing Animal Cruelty (Hardcover)

Review: Brute Force

This is an insightful, analytically astute, balanced, and timely ethnographic study of humane law enforcement officers (the "animal police"). Suspended, as they are, between police officers and animal control workers, humane officers seek to safeguard the well-being and welfare of animals in a society where animal-human relationships are becoming ever more ubiquitous and ever more finely textured.

Although this is not a "shock book," I still found it disconcerting to read. One would assume (as I did prior to reading this book) that if someone has taken on the responsibility of owning a domesticated/farm animal or pet, that simple utilitarian motives would move that individual to at least minimally provide for that animal[s]. This, sadly, is not always the case. I also learned that legal constructs such as "abuse" and "cruelty" are not clear cut--whether that be in the field or in the courtroom.

Arluke constructs this thoughtful examination around several themes and concepts, including the emotional socialization of humane officers as they move from the idealism of newly graduated rookies to the more nuanced perspective of senior officers. Perspectives toward the meaning of work can differ as Arluke found two occupational groupings in the humane officers he studied: (1) the "police-oriented officer" and the (2) "animal-inclined officers." As reflected in their labels, the police-oriented officers identified more with the police and law enforcements aspects of their work while the animal-inclined officers were often younger, more likely to be female, and more often identified themselves as "animal people" and pet owners.

I was most impressed with the work of humane officers as Arluke detailed the lengths to which these public servants would mediate with animal owners, the complainant and/or neighbors on behalf of animals. Officers bought pet food for poor owners, constructed shelters for trapped in the element animals. and went out of their way to defuse what can easily be extremely volatile situations (e.g., Humane Officer: "A complaint about animal abuse/neglect/cruelty has been made against you...." Animal Owner: "What stinking jerk said that? I want to know who that is--and now."

Most troublesome was the indifference displayed by court officials, (e.g., clerks, district attorneys and judges) when humane officers felt it was necessary to file criminal charges--usually only as a last resort by humane officers who are quite aware of their low stature and legitimacy on the court docket. It is discouraging to think how difficult it is to prove abuse or cruelty and how often the animal literally has to die or be unarguably maimed before justice can be served.

This is a well written and easily digested book, with something for animal lovers (even animal tolerators), and for social scientists interested in understanding the nature and importance of human-animal relationships.