Animal Cruelty Investigator

Since 1924, Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been the leading private, nonprofit animal welfare organization in the greater Houston region. Receiving no governmental funding, we rely upon the community’s financial support to achieve our goals of improving and protecting the lives of animals in our community and alleviating their suffering and abuse.

Primary Purpose:

Reporting to the Chief Cruelty Investigator, our team of Animal Cruelty Investigators are responsible for responding to reports of Animal Cruelty, abuse, and neglect throughout Harris County and surrounding areas. Animal Cruelty Investigators interview members of the public, perform on-site inspections, and perform other investigative steps, along with collaborating with law enforcement agencies, and performing animal rescues.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Respond to reports of cruelty and neglect within Harris County and the surrounding counties.
• Interact with members of the public, including reporting parties, potential suspects, law enforcement, and witnesses to investigate and address each situation.
• Evaluate the condition of animals on each scene. Handle all animals humanely, safely, and with compassion according to established Houston SPCA procedures. Use restraint as needed for animal and human safety.
• Educate the public about proper and humane animal treatments and conditions.
• Strive to arrive at a conclusion in each investigation that is in each animal’s best interests.
• Participate in safe containment and transporting of all types of animals (companion animals, farm animals, exotics, and native wildlife) in a wide variety of environments.
• Prioritize caseload and make judgment calls for response to animals needing assistance based on Houston SPCA protocols and directives.
• Perform after-hours On-Call monitoring and responding, based on a rotational staffing schedule.
• Maintain effective communication within the Investigation Department and with other departments, including responsible reporting of critical cases and advance-reporting of animal intakes for shelter preparations.
• Support other team members and also ask for assistance when needed.
• Support criminal and civil cases by investigating complaints in a timely manner. Following established protocols to gather and verify evidence through observations, interviews, photography, and video-recordings.
• Document each case and our investigative actions thoroughly and clearly in case files. This includes case history, site documentation, animal conditions, animal behaviors, suspects, and witnesses.
• Coordinate with our staff veterinarians to obtain medical assessments and reports.
• Prepare formal reports for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. Testify as necessary in court for civil seizure and criminal proceedings.
• Protect all confidential information, including names and information on suspects and other individuals involved in investigations, customers, employees, donors, animals, and internal communications.
• Represent the mission and vision of Houston SPCA with the public, donors, volunteers, and media personnel on campus and in the field. Professionally represent the Houston SPCA by providing excellent customer service and focus.
• Safely drive assigned vehicles, which can include SUVs, trucks, and trucks pulling trailers.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned.