Newsgram

 Last month Mayor Francis G. Slay, Stray Rescue founder Randy Grim, Police Chief Dan Isom, Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, and other City officials announced the creation of a formalized alliance to combat and prevent animal abuse in the City of St. Louis.  The mission of the Mayor's Animal Cruelty Task Force, the first of its kind in the City's history, is to create a safer St. Louis for both companion animals and City residents.  Its mission will be to rigorously enforce animal abuse/neglect laws and city ordinances, to enlist the help of neighbors who see abuse, and to raise awareness of animal cruelty and what can be done to prevent it.

Stray Rescue and the Department of Health are developing a public information campaign to raise awareness.  Check the City website periodically to read more about the Task Force and the campaign.  And remember, if you see abuse or believe that an animal is being abused/neglected, contact the Citizens' Service Bureau by phone at (314) 622-4800, via Twitter at @stlcsb or through this web site by clicking on the "Request a Service" link on the front page and following the prompts.*

Animal abuse is serious business and through the formation of the Mayor's Animal Cruelty Task Force, there will be serious consequences for such criminal offenders.

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* Update Jan. 7, 2015:  For cases that occur after regular business hours, please contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department at either 9-1-1 or (314) 231-1212, depending the situation.