Brute Force

by Arnold Arluke

"Part sociology, part psychology, Arluke's Brute Force, a one-year intensive study of 30 animal police and dispatchers; traces the quest of these individuals to become a power for the helpless and a voice for the mute. As animal police conduct their investigations and prosecutions, they see how the public trivializes cruelty. Rather than "fighting the good flight" they are overwhelmed with complaints that are ambiguous and are on the periphery of legal abuses. Even more discouraging are clear-cut and extreme cases of cruelty that fail to produce justice in court. Resulting cynicism is aggravated when rookies realize that they are seen as second-rate "wannabe" animal police or closet animal "extremists."" "With little legitimate authority to enforce the law, animal police become humane educators who try to make abusers, or others they meet on the job, into responsible pet owners. With few victories in court, they discover ways to feel effective in their fight against cruelty. And with d