Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) is stepping up its response to animal cruelty in Jacksonville, turning to the public for help, offering cash rewards, and enforcing new laws that bring tougher consequences for offenders.

ACPS officials said recent cases, along with new state laws, are changing how animal cruelty is investigated and punished.

To read the rest of the story: No more 'slap on the wrist': Jacksonville animal cruelty cases