Based out of Daytona Beach, Florida, Adam Leath is the Director of Volusia County Animal Services. There he investigates and responds to situations involving animal victims of natural disasters and animal cruelty cases. Leath was, formerly, the Southeast Regional Director of the Field Investigations and Response Team at the ASPCA.  There he aided jurisdictions at the local, state, and federal levels investigating crimes against animals. While in that position, Leath led one of the largest operations in ASPCA history with the seizure of over 1,000 animals in August of 2016. Leath also successfully investigated one of the largest cockfighting cases in Florida history, resulting in the seizure of more than 650 birds and numerous arrests. Leath has responded to multiple dogfighting operations throughout his time at the ASPCA, including the second largest dog fighting bust in U.S. history in 2013, resulting in the seizure of more than 400 dogs.

Leath holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Tennessee and a Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Forensic Science from the University of Florida. He is the immediate past president of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association and is a Certified National Animal Cruelty Investigator through the University of Missouri. He has also been certified in Equine Cruelty Investigation through the University of Colorado. Leath has been certified as an expert witness in animal fighting and animal cruelty in the state of Florida and in New York.

Website:  https://justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/is-mission-creep-killing-your-agency/

Internationally acclaimed lecturer, author and educator Phil Arkow is coordinator of the National LINK Coalition – the National Resource Center on The LINK between Animal Abuse and Human Violence – and edits the monthly LINK-Letter. He chairs the Latham Foundation’s Animal Abuse and Family Violence Prevention Project. He teaches at the University of Florida, Harcum College and Camden County College. He has presented over 250 times in 17 countries, 38 states and 9 Canadian provinces, and has authored over 80 key reference works on human-animal interactions and violence prevention.

He co-founded the National Link Coalition, the National Animal Control Association, and the Colorado and New Jersey humane federations. He has served with the AVMA, the ASPCA, American Humane, the Delta Society, the Animals & Society Institute, the National Sheriffs Association, the National Coalition on Violence Against Animals, the National District Attorneys Association, the Academy on Violence & Abuse, and the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from New Jersey Child Assault Prevention.

Website:  https://justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/improving-public-safety-by-stopping-animal-cruelty-the-link/

Audra Houghton began working with animals more than 25 years ago, during which time she has filled several roles from veterinary technician to dog trainer and K9 handler. In early 2008, she entered the animal welfare field and found her true passion.  She served as both a Cruelty Investigator and a supervisor of a highly effective Animal Crimes Investigations unit in San Antonio, Texas where she gained extensive experience investigating misdemeanor and felony criminal cases involving a wide range of species. During that time she led and participated in several task forces in Texas to address animal fighting, abuse and neglect.  In 2016, she became the Director of Operations at a non-profit Animal Care and Control shelter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she served on the Philadelphia Mayor’s Animal Advisory Committee, the Philadelphia No-Kill Coalition steering committee, and served as the interim Executive Director in 2018. She has a talent for overseeing large seizures and field operations and finds being able to support communities and their pets in crisis both challenging and rewarding. She joined HSUS in December of 2018 where she serves as the Director of the Operations arm of the Animal Rescue Team. Here, she oversees the dedicated, hardworking team responsible for the field response and readiness, sheltering, and volunteer program aspects of ART.

Website Page:  https://justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/large-animal-cruelty-cases-unique-considerations-for-investigating-non-companion-animal-neglect/