Protecting Animals in Our Community

 

 

Did you know that animal cruelty in Texas can result in fines of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence of up to two years? Thanks to House Bill 656 and Senate Bill 1724—collectively known as Loco’s Law—animal cruelty has been a criminal offense in the state since 2001. This landmark legislation was named after Loco, a dog who suffered a horrific act of abuse when his eyes were intentionally gouged out. His tragic case ignited a movement that led to stronger protections for animals across Texas.

What is Animal Cruelty?

Animal cruelty takes many forms, ranging from neglect and abandonment to outright abuse and exploitation. Some of the most common instances include puppy mills, factory farming, illegal wildlife trade, and entertainment industries that force animals into inhumane conditions. Recognizing these forms of cruelty is the first step in preventing them, as every individual has the power to make a difference by speaking out against mistreatment and advocating for better animal welfare standards.

Animals are essential members of our communities, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their safety and well-being. Animal cruelty is broadly defined as the intentional infliction of harm on an animal or the failure to provide essential care for its survival. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Inflicting physical harm or torture on an animal
• Failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter, or medical care
• Abandoning an animal in unsafe or inhumane conditions
• Transporting or confining an animal in a cruel or hazardous manner
• Killing, seriously injuring, or poisoning an animal
• Forcing an animal to engage in fights with other animals
• Using live animals as bait or lures in racing or other activities
• Tripping or intentionally causing injury to a horse
• Harming or maiming an animal belonging to another individual
• Subjecting an animal to extreme labor or overexertion beyond its capacity

The Impact of Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty is unfortunately a widespread issue, with some of the most reported cases involving cats, dogs, horses, and livestock. Alarmingly, Texas leads the nation in animal cruelty cases, with nearly 7,000 reported incidents between 2011 and 2021 according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Incident-Based Reporting System.

Many cases of animal cruelty go unreported because people either don’t recognize the signs or hesitate to take action. Common indicators of neglect or abuse include visible wounds, extreme malnutrition, poor living conditions, and animals left outdoors in harsh weather without shelter. We must also pay attention to behavioral signs like excessive fear, aggression, or extreme withdrawal can also point to mistreatment. If you suspect animal abuse, it’s crucial to report it to local authorities, animal control agencies, or humane organizations. By taking a stand and reporting abuse, you could save an animal from a life of suffering and hold offenders accountable. Something to take note of is that individuals who engage in animal abuse can escalate to harming humans. Studies have shown that animal cruelty is often a precursor to violence against children and adults. Addressing and preventing animal abuse can ultimately help prevent broader societal harm.

How You Can Help: Minimizing Situations for Possible Abuse and Reporting Animal Cruelty

Preventing animal cruelty doesn’t always require drastic action—small, everyday choices can make a significant impact. Adopting pets instead of buying from breeders, supporting cruelty-free brands, and reducing meat consumption all contribute to a kinder world for animals. Volunteering at shelters, educating others about animal welfare, and donating to organizations fighting against cruelty are also effective ways to help. Even spreading awareness on social media can influence others to make more compassionate choices. Every action, no matter how small, helps move society toward a future where animals are treated with the respect and care they deserve.

The Harris County Animal Cruelty Taskforce is dedicated to improving the welfare of animals and ending abuse. This task force works alongside law enforcement, animal control agencies, prosecutors, veterinarians, and the Houston Humane Society to combat animal cruelty and educate the community on how to respond when abuse is suspected.

If you witness or suspect animal cruelty, it is critical to report it immediately. You can file a report online or call the Harris County Animal Cruelty Taskforce at 832-927-PAWS.

Our mission to solve and prevent serious crime in the Greater Houston Area would not be possible without the support of our generous donors and partners. The support of organizations like Houston PetSet has allowed Crime Stoppers of Houston’s animal cruelty prevention and awareness initiatives to remain an innovative and ever-expanding resource for animal safety education in the Greater Houston Area and beyond.

By staying informed and taking action, we can make a difference. Thank you for being a part of this important cause.

Sources:

• The Humane Society of the United States: Animal Cruelty Facts and Stats
• Total Vet: Animal Abuse Statistics
• Harris County Animal Cruelty Taskforce

Breaking the Silence: Raising Awareness for Teen Dating Violence

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This issue affects millions of young people every day. Teen dating violence can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and digital abuse.

Unfortunately, some teens may not recognize the abuse, or they may be too afraid to speak out. It is crucial for teens to recognize the warning signs of abuse in their relationships. Some red flags include extreme jealousy or insecurity, belittling or put-downs, pressure for sexual activity, and threats of harm.

There are many ways for teens to protect themselves if they experience dating violence. Setting boundaries, trusting their instincts, and having a safety plan are essential steps. It is also important to know when to seek help. Teens should talk to a trusted adult—such as a parent, teacher, or counselor—if they feel unsafe. They can also reach out to a local domestic violence hotline or law enforcement for support.

Every teen deserves a healthy, respectful relationship. By speaking up and supporting one another, we can break the cycle of abuse and create a future where love is safe and empowering.

For more information, visit millionformillion.org.

 

3 FAQs About Illicit Massage Businesses

One of the most well-known forms of human trafficking is the selling of commercial sex within illicit massage businesses (IMBs). It is the second most common type of trafficking reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline¹, and most Houstonians can find an IMB within a short driving distance of their home, school, or place of employment.

It’s important to remember that most massage businesses in America are not illicit – they employ perfectly legal operations and provide safe and effective treatment for their clientele. We must also remember that not all massage workers at an IMB provide sexual services, and many regular customers would never know that some clients in the next room are paying for sex.

But in our community outreach efforts, our team here at Crime Stoppers of Houston is constantly asked about trafficking by concerned neighbors, and this unfortunate reality is very much alive in our city.

We have found that many of our community members share common questions about the nature of trafficking and illicit massage businesses within our city:

How can you tell if a massage parlor is legitimate or not?

This is by far one of the most common questions our team gets. A few signs that a massage business may be facilitating human trafficking include:

• Windows that are completely covered or blacked out
• Customers must buzz in to enter the business
• They refuse to admit or serve female customers
• Listed rates for massages are lower than the industry standard
• You are asked to pay for massage services before receiving treatment
• There are no intake forms you are required to complete prior to receiving treatment

The presence of one or more of these indicators could be a sign that a business is involved in the sale of commercial sex.

Why don’t victims just leave?

Victim workers in these establishments are primarily controlled through debt bondage, blackmail, intense psychological manipulation, and/or physical violence. Almost every aspect of their life is controlled — where they live, what they eat, where they go, what they look like, and who they are allowed to talk to.

On top of that, many victims are not U.S. citizens, so they may have cultural and language barriers, fear law enforcement, and/or have no or limited knowledge of their rights, which can make it incredibly difficult for them to seek support. 

For others, working in an IMB is the only way they are able to provide for themselves, their children, and family members they may have abroad. Many victim workers simply cannot afford to jeopardize their situation, no matter how inhumane and dangerous it might be.

Why don’t the police just shut them down?

Permanently shutting down an illicit massage business is a complicated process. Police operations like raids and undercover stings can result in trafficking victims being arrested and booked on prostitution charges, while the actual trafficker evades any legal consequences. Additionally, most of these businesses are part of much larger organized crime networks, and if one location is closed, traffickers will simply shift the  victims to another.

Building a solid case that will remove traffickers from society in the long term takes time, resources, and hard work. As our law enforcement partners work to gather evidence and pursue criminal charges, there are other steps regular citizens can take to curb trafficking in our communities.

Business owners are required to adhere to various codes and regulations in order to operate legally, but many IMBs may not be following these requirements and may be vulnerable to civil penalties, including fines and potential closures.

We encourage citizen involvement, particularly in supporting victims, but uninformed action, however well-intentioned, can do more harm than good. Avoid entering massage parlors you suspect may be IMBs, attempting to talk with potential victims, or taking actions designed to draw attention to a particular business, like a protest. These actions can alert traffickers and cause them to move their operation before victims can be identified and helped.

If you suspect that a location is an IMB and facilitating human trafficking, report a tip to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

1. https://polarisproject.org/blog/2018/05/is-there-massage-parlor-trafficking-in-my-community/

 

Crime Stoppers of Houston Raises Over $2 Million Dollars at Raise ‘Em Up for Texas Annual Gala

The theme of the Crime Stoppers of Houston’s annual gala, “Raise ‘Em Up for Texas”, was all about big hats, big hearts, and grand celebration of wins. Chaired by dynamic couples Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey and Matt Mackey, along with Michelle and Jonathan Zadok, the event took place on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at The Revaire and raised over $2 million to support Crime Stoppers’ mission to combat crime and keep children across Texas safe through its Safe School Institute. The event soared to new heights thanks to strategic chairs, Vanessa Ames and Jordan Seff, whose leadership and wide-ranging vision created an unforgettable evening for all.

The lavish celebration united over 400 generous supporters, community advocates, elected officials, and law enforcement from across the state for a lively Texas-themed party which kicked off with an energetic happy hour, offering guests opportunities to support the night’s exciting silent auction and raffle.  

Houston Media Icon Dave Ward welcomed guests into the main ballroom with pre-recorded messages, followed by an entertaining opening from emcee and auctioneer Johnny Bravo, including a message from Houston Mayor John Whitmire who thanked Crime Stoppers for its steadfast support to help keep our city safe. Before dinner, Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious spoke about the important mission of Crime Stoppers, offering insights on the organization’s unique safety programs and highlighting the work of the Safe School Institute, which tirelessly strives to keep schools across Texas safe.

Guests were entertained by the band Nobody’s Fool while savoring a delicious dinner featuring steaks donated by Ben Berg and the Berg Hospitality Group.

The action-packed program continued with remarks from special guest Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor and President of the University of Houston, who joined to celebrate the community efforts of Crime Stoppers. In her speech, she highlighted a campus incident where many lives were potentially saved when an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers helped prevent a mass shooting.

The festivities continued with a thrilling live auction by Johnny Bravo, designed to raise funds in support of the Crime Stoppers mission. Then, special guest and recent Stratford High School graduate Seven “Shamir” Francis shared his story reflected of experiences faced by millions of teenagers. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude for Crime Stoppers, highlighting how it serves as a counterbalance to the serious challenges kids face today by providing positive messaging and resources to help them make safer choices regardless of their circumstances.

Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious continued the evening by introducing the McIngvale Family Humanitarian Award, named in honor of the McIngvale Family for their outstanding benevolent efforts and support to the community during times of crisis, as well as their investment in the work of Crime Stoppers. Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey and ‘Mattress Mack’ Jim McIngvale joined Rania on stage to present the inaugural award to The John M. O’Quinn Foundation, represented by Board of Trustees Chairman Rob Wilson. This award recognized the foundation’s support of the Safe School Institute through a historic $500,000 gift, marking a significant first step in helping Crime Stoppers provide safety resources to children across Texas. Immediately afterward, Crime Stoppers debuted a video announcing its 2025 Million for Million campaign, which aims to reach one million students with safety resources. To help achieve this goal, Johnny Bravo led a Paddles Up call for donations, resulting in an impressive additional amount of $500,000 raised.  

To help celebrate this huge accomplishment, Oscar award-winning actor and Crime Stoppers friend Matthew McConaughey sent a special video message.

The evening wrapped up with Zadok Jewelers announcing Oscar Martinez as the lucky winner of the ring raffle, followed by some fun country dancing!

Thursday’s celebration was supported by many individuals, community partners and generous underwriters, including Entertainment Sponsor Inscription Capital/Patrick Keller; Provisions Sponsor Berg Hospitality Group; Auction Sponsor Connectivity Source/Scott and Lindsay Aronstein, Printing Sponsor Kelley Stephen Lubanko, Water Bottle Sponsor Erin Stetzer Homes, Happy Hour Sponsor Marfa Spirit Company, Valet Sponsor Porsche River Oaks and Porsche West Houston; President Sponsor C. James & Carole Walter Looke Family Fund; Governor Sponsor Seff and Ames Family; Mayor Sponsors Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, Susan Boggio, Amerapex, Innovative Legal Solutions, Jane Johnstone – in Memory of the Honorable Mike McSpadden, Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, The McIngvale Family, Hildebrand Foundation and Zadok Jewelers; and Commissioner Sponsors Charlie and Melissa Weldon, Deborah and William Walker, Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Kevin and Brooke Lee and Natalie and Steven Mohtashami, Meg and Dick Weekley.

Additional supporters include Dylan and Jordan Seff, Chuck and Vanessa Ames, Eric Elder, Caroline and Matthew Monday, John Eddie and Sheridan Williams, Brooke and Kevin Lee, June and Steve Barth, Laura and Dave Ward, Dana Barton and Robert Clay, Charlie and Melissa Weldon, Laura and Ned Davenport, Natalie and Steve Mohtashami, Shane Treleaven, and Jillian and Yuri Waldo.

Notable guests include United States Senator Ted Cruz, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, City Council Member Willie Davis, Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, and Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen.

Visit www.crime-stoppers.org for additional information on Crime Stopper’s programs, resources and events.

Halloween Safety