The county’s district attorney’s office has created a new Animal Cruelty Prosecution Unit to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty cases in the county. District Attorney Mike Ramos said his office prosecuted 84 animal cruelty cases last year, including animal cruelty and neglect, cockfighting rings, dogfighting, animal hoarding, and animal abuse. He added that law enforcement is well aware of a link between animal cruelty and other kinds of violence. The animal cruelty unit will be a part of the family violence unit, and will consist of at least eight deputy district attorneys and investigators.