Centre County Sheriff’s Office Adds Humane Society Officer

A Centre County deputy sheriff is ready to get to work handling cases of animal cruelty and neglect.

Deputy Mark Rusnak has completed training at the Pennsylvania Academy for Animal Care and Control to become a Humane Society Police Officer “and is ready to help us better protect the animals in our community,” the Centre County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.

Rusnak is the first Humane Society officer in Centre County and will work on cases countywide. The position has been in the works since last year, and the Centre County Board of Commissioners in March approved designating a deputy sheriff as a humane officer.

Rusnak will be responsible for investigating animal cruelty cases, enforcing animal protection laws and “promoting the humane treatment of all animals,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Some issues, however, remain under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement or other authorities, not the humane officer. Those include: Stray pets and other animals running at large, theft of animals, rabies vaccinations, dog licensing, dog bites or dangerous dogs, local ordinances such as pet limits, and kennel and puppy mill inspections.

“Together, we’re committed to making Centre County a safer and more compassionate place for both our residents and our furry friends,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this important mission.”