LANCASTER, Pa.-- The Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said he is not happy with the way animal abuse cases have been handled recently.
Last week, his office started a tip line to report animal abuse. They've had about 20 tips since then.
"So far, so good," Stedman said. "We just need to do better in Lancaster County with animal cruelty and this is just one small step."
Stedman said this line is part of the response to the Libre investigation, where charges were not filed against a neglected dog.
"I was not satisfied with how animal cruelty was being handled in our county recently," Stedman said.
According to Stedman, the tips will be forwarded to local police departments to handle the cases.
"We'll be more of the coordinator, but if a department needs our help and resources, we'll bring it," he said.
A detective with the district attorney's office will be handling the tips. She said to FOX43 that this will allow for the D.A.'s office to make sure cases are looked into and followed up on.
"One thing that I do want to stress is we're not manning this 24/7," Stedman said. "If there is an emergency, they need to call the police."
Becki Meiss, operations manager of the Humane League of Lancaster County, said they support the use of the tip line.
"Any way that can be used to help facilitate the help of reporting animal cruelty is really a bonus," she said.
She said this should help solve animal cruelty cases.
"Our hope is that this tip line will streamline the process from the beginning when someone reports animal cruelty all the way through when the situation is hopefully resolved," Meiss said.
Here is the address to where to send tips: AnimalAbuse@co.lancaster.pa.us