Episode 40. Taking Down Animal Abusers and Breast Cancer with April Doherty

April Doherty has dedicated her career to seeing that animal abusers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As a paralegal with the Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office for the past 18 years, April shares her experiences witnessing animal abuse and neglect cases being taken more seriously by all players in the criminal justice system. April’s impressive resume also includes training and educating law enforcement – both home and abroad! We also talk about the emotional toll that this work can take and why self-care is so important.

April also opens up about being diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2020. Her vulnerable social media sharing about this journey is helping women – including me! – with processing all the emotions that come from facing this diagnosis and learning to live this next chapter of life.

In her “spare time,” April helped create the Love Leads Project, is a Show Your Soft Side “Softie,” works at Grand View Farm and is certified as a personal trainer.

April & I discuss:

April’s childhood pets and when dogs first entered her life;
How she started working in the legal field and how Grand Jury Duty led to April’s career at the State’s Attorney Office;
The case that opened April’s eyes to animal abuse prosecutions;
How the criminal justice system is taking animal abuse cases more seriously;
The difference between neglect (acts of omission) and animal abuse (acts of commission);
April’s self-care and the emotional toll of doing this work;
Giving animals a voice in the criminal justice system;
The Link – between animal cruelty, domestic violence and the propensity to commit other violent crimes against people;
Communication, collaboration and cooperation – between all parts of the criminal justice system;
April’s impressive resume;
How April started teaching at the police academy;
How common is dog fighting? And cock fighting?;
April’s world travels;
Starting the Love Leads Project - providing first responders – free-of-charge – the tools necessary to humanely respond to dog encounters.;
Becoming a Show Your Soft Side “Softie”;
How April became a “farm girl” and her work at Grand View Farm ; and
Breast Cancer - how “living like a dog” helped get April through this journey and how April’s words on social media are what so many women facing this diagnosis need to hear.