Tips for Reporting Animal Cruelty
•Write down what you
observed, give dates and times when possible.
•Take pictures of the animals in question, but do not put
yourself in danger.
•Do not enter someone’s property without their permission.
•If you can, provide the names and contact information of
other people who have firsthand information about the abusive situation.
•If you run into trouble finding the correct agency to
contact, you may wish to call or visit your local police department and ask for
their help in enforcing the law. Similarly, you can ask at your local shelter
or animal control agency for help. To find contact information for your local
shelter, check the yellow pages or visit the ASPCA’s searchable database of
nearly 5,000 community SPCAs, humane societies and animal control
organizations.
Signs of neglect:
A shocking number of animals die from neglect every year,
right under the noses of the entire community. If you see an animal in distress
don't assume that someone else will take care of the situation; take action!
Pay particular attention to:
> Chained dogs are most likely to die from starvation,
dehydration or hypothermia, since their confinement renders them especially
vulnerable and helpless.
>Animals without shelter in extreme heat or cold.
>Clearly emaciated animals: clearly visible bones and
lethargy can be a sign of an untreated, life-threatening medical condition or
imminent starvation.
>Obvious, untreated wounds or other medical conditions:
animals who are limping or otherwise demonstrating distress, and animals with
multiple patches of missing fur and open sores need treatment.
>Too many animals living on one property. This can be a
sign of animal hoarding.
Dogs or cats inside abandoned homes. Reports of companion
animals abandoned and left to die inside vacant buildings or apartment units
are startlingly common. >If you notice a neighbor has moved or has stopped
coming around to a residence where you animals live, be extra vigilant.
Some dogs bark and whine to express their anxiety when they
are left alone, but a dog who is howling or barking for more than a day sending
out a clear signal that he's not being attended to. He may be injured or he may
be abandoned. Try to find out if someone is at the residence, and if not, ask
the authorities to investigate. If the neglect is ongoing or prolonged, it's
often helpful to document it. You'll be better able to make your case and
persuade authorities to take action if you if you've been able to take daily
notes and photographs of the situation.
Obvious violence
No reasonable, conscientious person would ignore a child
being beaten, hit or kicked. Neither should anyone turn a blind eye to animal
abuse!
If you witness overt
violence against an animal or suspect it, speak up! If you don't feel
comfortable directly intervening in a situation, quickly call the authorities.
(If you don't have the appropriate number in your cell phone, dial 911.)
Knowing that s/he is being watched might startle the abuser
into stopping the immediate act of violence, but ultimately, most cases are
best left to law enforcement. It is especially important to involve law
enforcement when violence is involved because the abuse is likely to be part of
an ongoing pattern of violence that may include both animals and people. Don't
delay; time is of the essence!
