Calling animal cruelty “a gateway” to other violent crimes, interim Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has announced an effort to crack down on those guilty of such crimes.

“Keeping Maricopa County safe means addressing crime at every level,” Mitchell said at an Aug. 23 news conference.

She called animals a “special group of victims.”

“Animal cruelty is a gateway to crime,” she said.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, animal cruelty crimes can serve as a precursor to more violent crimes and other types of offenses such as domestic violence, assault and elder abuse.

In the crackdown effort, Mitchell has hired a prosecutor and specialized detective to work on animal cruelty cases.

Prosecutor Casey Mundell, who was recently appointed as a municipal judge and will be leaving the office soon, has focused on the cases for years, according to a release from the county attorney.

“Casey has been a wonderful advocate on behalf of animal victims. Even in his absence, these cases will remain a priority,” Mitchell said.

Domestic and sexual violence are two examples of crimes that often "co-occur with animal cruelty," according to the county release, which added that 71% of pet-owning women reported that their abuser had injured, killed or threatened family pets.

“Stated simply, people who hurt animals don’t stop with animals. There is a strong link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to humans, and violence against animals must be taken seriously under the law,” said Myriah Moon, CEO of New Life Center, the largest domestic violence shelter in the state.

“More than ever, it is our duty to stay vigilant towards animal cruelty. When animals in a home are abused or neglected, it is a warning sign that others in the household may not be safe.”