Season 5
Animal Precinct is an American reality television series produced by Anglia Television which follows the animal cruelty agents of the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement department as they work as advocates for the five million pets and other animals in New York City.
The series premiered in the USA on Animal Planet on 26 June, 2001. There are seven seasons to date.
The first four seasons were narrated by Michael Madsen; since Season 5 the series has been narrated by Holt McCallany.
Animal Precinct premiered in South Africa on DStv's Animal Planet channel on Thursday 7 August 2008, at 21h00. Season 5 has not yet aired in South Africa.
Synopsis
In New York City today, police officers are asked to navigate a gamut of diverse cultures, languages and beliefs to serve the eight million people that reside in America's biggest metropolis.
Within this mosaic, however, is a large population in need of protection that is often overlooked; the city's five million animals.
Unlike their human counterparts, these animals are protected by a small group of law enforcement officials who, until now, have done their important work in obscurity.
Animal Precinct chronicles the drama, emotion, triumph and tragedy of the work of the agents of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's (ASPCA) Humane Law Enforcement Department (HLE), the only law enforcement group in New York City solely devoted to investigating crimes against New York's animal population.
From inside the HLE's headquarters, Animal Precinct allows viewers to accompany the agents as they investigate some of the thousands of crimes that are reported to them each year.
Led by Dale Riedel, a former New York City police commanding officer, Animal Precinct chronicles the work of HLE agents. These investigators all possess a passion to prevent animal cruelty and punish perpetrators that serves as the driving force behind their work.
Their cases include the infiltration and destruction of dog fighting rings, the closing down of cockfighting facilities, and the arrests of perpetrators who are starving and abusing their animals.
To do their jobs effectively, the agents must combine their investigative skills, compassion, tact and street smarts while dealing with people who are often uncooperative, unsympathetic and, at times, violent.
All of their abilities, and more, are on display throughout Animal Precinct.
Officers
The ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) officers can be classified as Special Agents or Special Investigators.
Many HLE officers are identified by name on-camera; however, some are not, instead spoken of only by initial (most notably “Special Agent M” and “Special Agent Q”) with their faces blurred when on-camera as a way to protect their identities so that they can do undercover work for the ASPCA.
During the first three seasons, the HLE team had 10 investigators. At the start of the fourth season, the team had been expanded to 15 investigators. In season six, the team expanded again, and now has 20 investigators.
Kristi Adams
John De La Torre
Diane DiGiacomo
Adam Gankiewicz
Bob Clark
Mike Geller
Paul Lai
Annemarie Lucas
Mark MacDonald
Joe Pentangelo
Richard Raheb
Peter Rivas
Paul Romano
Henry Ruiz (Special Agent H)
Richard Ryan
Tina Salaks
Joann Sandano
Timothy Stack
Michael Tietje (retired in 2006)