Law N’ Paws is a unique rescue group that was established in 2017 by El Paso Police Detective, Vanessa Acosta. We are a 501c(3) non-profit group and have rescued over 400 victims of animal cruelty and neglect.

Law N’ Paws evolved when Detective Acosta began investigating animal cruelty and neglect cases with the El Paso Police Department. She soon realized the need to take it a step further, going above and beyond to help animal victims on her own time. She began to seek out medical care for rescue animals in need, paying out of her own pocket. Shortly thereafter, Law N’ Paws was created out of the need to help these innocent animals.

Shortly after Law N’ Paws was formed, Detective Acosta began to research cases of animal cruelty and study the nature of the crime. Detective Acosta learned that the offenders involved in harming animals were often violent criminals. These offenders usually would start harming animals as a power and control method, and would often move to transferring their aggression to harming children, elderly, and/or their spouses. Detective Acosta also conducted research on local police cases involving animal cruelty and these cases confirmed that offenders of animal cruelty often times have a history of violence.

The research gathered by Detective Acosta was presented to El Paso Police Department’s Chief of Police, Gregory Allen, he then decided there was a need for a specialized unit. He formed the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit in November of 2017. The unit was created in order to study, investigate cases, and stop these violent offenders early.

After the unit was formed, Detective Acosta learned that many of the animal cruelty victims had to be evaluated by a veterinarian in order to gather evidence. Since Animal Services has limited capabilities in providing this service, Law N’ Paws needed to step in to assist in finding the necessary veterinary resources to develop a solid criminal case against the abusers.

Detective Acosta decided that the non-profit rescue, Law N’ Paws needed to take even another step further and assist with obtaining veterinary assessments through independent sources in order to provide support towards criminal cases. Not only were the animal cruelty victims being rescued and treated, Law N’ Paws is assisting with the Police Department’s process in the criminal prosecution of cases. This process can be time consuming and costly, but invaluable.

Our animal cruelty victims are currently kenneled in a temporary facility. Our ultimate goal is to find a permanent and safe facility that will eventually lead to finding a loving, forever home for these animals.

We rely strictly on donations and grant funding to survive, so we now humbly are asking for assistance to continue our mission. At this time, the primary need for grant funding is to secure a permanent facility so we can continue to protect our animal cruelty victims. And of course, we are always in need funding to continue to help animal cruelty victims receive medical care, veterinary assessments in support of criminal cases, to improve the building maintenance of our temporary facility and of course ultimately funding a permanent facility.
Your donation/grant funding will allow us to continue our mission to protect animal cruelty victims and prosecute the criminals. And lastly, of upmost importance, to help animals who cannot help themselves.