page_title: San Diego Humane Society
section_title: Humane Law Enforcement
hierarchical_section_title: San Diego Humane Society / Humane Law Enforcement
caption_attribution_description: English: Patch of the San Diego Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement Division
context_page_description: San Diego Humane Society, is a non-profit organization in San Diego, California with three campuses in San Diego County - Oceanside, Escondido and Linda Vista. They are an open-admission shelter and are zero euthanasia for healthy and treatable animals. The organization's programs include sheltering and adopting animals, humane law enforcement, practicing and advancing the field of Shelter Medicine, rescuing animals in emergency situations, wildlife rehabilitation, the country's first 24/7 kitten nursery, positive reinforcement behavior training, providing adult and youth education programs, providing free pet food and supplies to families in need, sharing animals through pet-assisted therapy and more. San Diego Humane Society provides animal services for 12 cities in San Diego County and cares for nearly 50,000 animals a year.
context_section_description: San Diego Humane Society employs humane law officers dedicated to protecting animals throughout San Diego County by providing animal services and enforcing animal cruelty and neglect laws. San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement has officers in the field seven days a week, handling a variety of animal cruelty complaints. Humane Officers get their enforcement powers from the California Corporations Code 14502, and can exercise the powers of a peace officer while investigating animal-related crimes. Humane Officers are appointed by the State and undergo substantial training in animal care, state humane laws and continue education throughout their careers. They have jurisdictional authority anywhere in the State of California, however their primary area of responsibility is the County of San Diego. Officers are issued TASER devices, collapsible baton, and OC Spray as defensive weapons. Prior to 2004, officers who had completed the required training were permitted to carry firearms, however the agency no longer permits this. 
  Not only can San Diego Humane Society Officers issue citations, make arrests, file criminal charges and serve warrants, they also respond and rescue animals in disaster situations in San Diego and surrounding areas with the assistance of the Humane Society’s 24-hour volunteer-operated Emergency Response Team. Officers and ERT members provide emergency assistance to animals near and far and work with San Diego Humane Society's Community Engagement Department speaking to children throughout San Diego County.
  The Society's Humane Law Enforcement Division also operates its own communications center, responsible for providing dispatch services and mutual aid communications for officers at the Society's three campuses. The agency uses the San Diego-Imperial County Regional Communications System as its communications network, enabling seamless communications with other agencies in their jurisdiction. 
  Humane Law Officers resolved 24,451 cases in the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
caption: SDHS HLE Shoulder Patch
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