Why You Should Report Animal Cruelty - National Humane Education Society
Photo by The National Humane Education Society
If you are reading this, chances are you care about animal welfare and take excellent care of your own pets. All the same, would you know what to do if you suspected someone in your community of animal abuse or neglect? While many of us wouldn’t hesitate to rescue a stray, situations in which an animal technically has a legal owner can feel tricky. Even when we know that something we’ve witnessed constitutes animal cruelty, some of us may still feel ambivalent about involving law enforcement. We don’t want to be seen as snoops, nor do we want to be seen as making frivolous complaints on behalf of a “mere animal”. Furthermore, the last thing we want is to create turmoil in our communities and social circles. Due in part to worries like these, far too many witnesses don’t report animal cruelty when they see it. However, every person should know when and how they should contact law enforcement to report animal cruelty.
In An Emergency
First, if you see an animal in immediate physical danger, it is time to call law enforcement. Start dialing any time you see an animal trapped inside a hot car, in danger of freezing to death, or involved in a violent situation. If you do not know the number of the local animal control office, call the local sheriff’s office. If you cannot reach the sheriff’s office, call 911. You will not get in trouble for making a truthful report in good faith, and you could very well save a life.
When 911 Isn’t an Option
While you may not call 911 to report a continuously tethered dog, you may still be able to recruit help from animal control. In this case, it can be helpful to know about your county’s animal cruelty laws and ordinances. The website of your county commission or local humane society can help you learn the laws of your area. That said, even if you are unsure of the law as it pertains to the situation you’ve witnessed, you can still contact your local animal control or sheriff’s office, report what you’ve seen, and request that a “welfare check” be conducted at the address in question. Officers may not impound the animal, but they are likely to educate the owner. Rest assured that requesting a welfare check is not the same as filing a complaint or asking to press charges. A request for a welfare check is simply a request for officers to visit the property. You can also request that your identity not be revealed to the owner.
Tell the Right People
Unfortunately, many cases of animal abuse and neglect are resolved too late or not at all, simply because witnesses only came forward in the form of gossip or long after the fact. While advocating for abused animals can feel stressful at times, in many cases, the difference between a miserable death and a long, happy life is a single phone call. For more information on how to report animal cruelty, read more here.
I have a neighbor who has a dog that they never take outside. It’s a full size beagle and has not been out of the house in the five years they have had him. Is this detrimental to the dog?
Hi Priscilla, thanks for the comment. I’m sorry we didn’t get to your comment sooner. I hope the beagle is okay. Every dog should get a chance to be outside every day, and it certainly isn’t sanitary for dogs to discard waste inside the home on a regular basis. Have you tried discussing this with your neighbors?
Any positive follow up on these sad stories of dogs being neglected, or possibly tortured? In response to the person wanting to sue for emotional abuse.. did you call your local animal control to report the dog left out in the cold? Every time we feel sad or stressed seeing an animal in physical or mental pain we must focus on how we can help them, if possible, and channel our own anguish into finding ways to improving the animals’ quality of life. They need us to speak for them!
I’d have the same p too it’s a mix husky he said it’s a service dog but he takes the dog out for bathroom and puts the dog back into the cage I’d never saw him for walks or playing with his him he leaves the dog in the cage everyday I’d live in a mobile home park the Yards are small too it sticks me that the dog is in the cage All day
Who do I contact to report animal neglect?
Patrice,
Please contact your local law enforcement authority or animal control office.
I TRULY think that abusing an animal that you have to watch day in and day out as a neighbor should result in a emotional abuse to a person. I am HEAR to say (spelled that way intentionally!) I can’t walk out of my house without seeing that precious beautiful dog shivering and sleeping in the cold due to 0 attention day after day..month after month…year after year!! I would like to sue them for emotional abuse to me!! WHO WILL STAND WITH ME???
I’m dealing with a neighbor who has 2 dogs living underneath a flatbed trailer in a fenced in part of a pasture. They get zero attention. I’ve tried the humane society with no results so far!!!
Please contact your local animal control agency.
I’m with you!!
My ex has a dog that’s a massive mix, he’s had skin irritation problems since we were together and i would take him to the vet for medicine to heal him, it became a regular thing. We split a year ago and but we share two toddlers so I dropped them off a couple days ago and I got to see the dog, he looks awful, so much hair missing on his back, blood gushes around his mouth and paws. I petted him for a brief moment to say hi and when I left I smelt my hand and he was filthy and I had blood on my hand. I couldn’t help but to ask what happened and he said he just finished meds on him, but he looked awful to me. He was also on the skinny side too. I’m highly concerned for the dogs well being.
Hi Amber, please contact your ex’s local animal control office immediately and report to them what you saw and that you would like them to check on the dog’s welfare. It sounds like the dog needs immediate attention.
My neighbor let’s their dog out maybe twice a day and when they do after a few minutes the dog starts barking and howling. It ends up barking at just nothing for hours. The dogs coat is either really unhealthy or really dirty but regardless the dog looks to be in pretty bad shape and it sounds like it’s being tortured. It’s also never on a leash and runs around constantly. Just wondering if there’s anything that can be done been having trouble getting through to animal control.
Hi Jason,
Please continue to reach out to animal control or your local humane society until you reach someone and urge them to check on the welfare of this dog and speak to the owner. Thank you for speaking up for the animals!
I have this neighbor who has a husky, he looks pretty small still so I’m guessing he’s still a puppy. I noticed they leave him out all day and night. I love in SoCal so it gets pretty hot. At night, he’s always crying and it breaks my heart, I just want to go over and bring him here
My neighbor has a husky too and it’s the same story, he is in a cage outside always also in the really hot days and very cold nights, they never take him out of the cage. The dog howls and cries all day and night and I call animal control and they told me there’s nothing to do because he has water and food. 😡😭
Hi Jackie, I would suggest contacting animal control again. Tell them you are a concerned citizen, and ask them to do a wellness check on the animal. Also, you can look into the noise ordinances in your area if the dog is howling and crying throughout certain hours of the night.
Me and the lady i was renting a room from (i will call her K), were moving out of the house we both lived at and i had to go give a friend,who is allergic to dogs
a ride home real quick. During that time, the actual landlord/homeowner & her sister, the maintenance man and his wife, and a neighbor ALL physically saw her carrying my dog to her car stating that i didn’t take good care of him(completely false) I have since filed a police report, officer called K and she told him ‘an old tenant named Joe dropped him off at some East Bay shelter and to stop effin’ harassing her). He took a report filed it w the DA as i am pressing charges. and i am waiting to hear what’s next🙄 He is micro chipped and i have called a million shelters and so i know he is not at a shelter. I feel so unbelievably helpless and angry/guilty that i cant find him. She changed her number and the only address i found cor hef online is over 3 hours away. My question is: can i call that citys animal services and ask they do a welfare check on the dog to confirm he is there if i confirm ownedship? I am not trying to drive out there cuz if she does in fact live there….lets just say i dont want to get in trouble.
This sounds like a difficult situation. Please be forthcoming with animal services and explain the situation, and surely they will check on the welfare of the dog for you.
I’m a mail carrier w/ a 54 mile rural route. I see a lot of animals in a day & I have a big heart for all of them. I think that I talk to the animals more than the people. There are no leash laws in this area. So I watch out for a lot of dogs. There’s a road that runs along a river & people from all over visit this area. These people don’t know about some of the dogs that get to hang outside while their owner is at work or off to run errands. As a result some of the poor dogs come in contact with speeding vehicles and get hurt. I have seen squirrels, possum, a variety of birds, raccoons, deer, ground hogs, and even a dog that’s lost their life to this. It’s heartbreaking. I know that’s sometimes it’s unavoidable. I’ve had animals run out in front of me before. But, sometimes it could have been prevented if the driver had been watching and going the speed limit or cared. There’s 1 house on my route that sits very close to the road. I noticed that they had adopted a young male dog. I witnessed him getting hit by a truck once. And also would see him not move out of the way of cars. He’s young. He doesn’t know any better. It’s rare for me to see the owner. One day I had a package for him & he happened to be outside with his daughter. After I gave him his package, before I headed back to the truck I mentioned that I was worried about his dog & he asked why. So I told him about the cars that go too fast and seeing his dog get bumped by the front bumper of a truck. His little girl proceeded to tell me that he had been hit before & that there other doggie had been hit by a car and killed. The mans didn’t really say much. Just kind of shrugged it off. On another day I noticed his dog was limping. I’ve seen other dogs doing that as well. Could be from a fight or a car. Idk. All the dogs seem to get along well though. And his is 1 of 4 that hang out together. So 1 day about 2 weeks ago I see a 4-5 month old female pit bull at this customers house. About a week later I see her and her front left paw is all messed up. She’s having a hard time walking. My heart drops. I decide to talk to the customer of my concerns. No one comes outside. I call the animal shelter in this area but they don’t service this county and they give me the name & number of a place that does. I call a few times & send text. It’s a volunteer place only and about a week later I still have not heard from them. 2 days later, working again, and I see that the customer has their door open so I stop. I feel uncomfortable going up on the porch since the door is open so I knock on the window that’s right there where I got out of my truck. The customer comes outside and again I voice my concern. And I mention seeing his hurt puppy. He says that she will be fine. At the end of our conversation I offer to help pay for a vet visit and he starts walking to go inside and says thank you mam have a good day. I’m so upset about this. My heart hurts because this poor puppy should be running and playing but, instead she’s hurting and having a hard time walking. She did come out on the porch while we were talking and cried as she turned around to go back inside. So I called the animal shelter again. Told them that their referral hasn’t called me back and that I talked to the owner and is not concerned at all. The best they said I could do then is call the local law enforcement. I don’t want to cause trouble. Just help these dogs. I get back to work and this customer had called and complained about me. Saying that I was peeking into his window while he was sitting on his couch. And I was interfering with his animals. The next day at work he had filed a complaint about me online saying that I was caught continuously looking in his window and was confrontational on the care of his animals. I feel awful and it is bothered me now for days. So I’m looking up online and I see that I should have called the law enforcement since there was no one to help me out our local animal shelter. I’ve been crying my eyes out for the animals and because this guy has turn this around on me making me look like the bad guys. I’m not a creeper I don’t go around looking into peoples windows I said everything as politely as I could when I talk to him about my concerns I was not pointing a finger at him I was letting him know that I was very concerned about the safety of his dogs. I have major anxiety going on. I don’t know what to do. Please help. I didn’t want to start a war. I wanted to save life.
Hello, I am so sorry for what you are going through. I hope that your employer understands that you were just doing what was right by advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. I apologize that the link was broken in this article to read more about reporting animal cruelty https://www.nhes.org/understanding-and-reporting-companion-animal-abuse/.
I live with my in laws and they have a German Shepard who I have noticed has blood shot red eyes that are really inflamed and you can’t even see the pupil anymore. It looks as if Bella, that’s the dogs name, just has red gushy eyes. It looks that bad! When I saw her, because I have never seen her like that, it made me cry! I ask my fiancé to bring it up to his family to take her to be seen because maybe it’s something that can be fixed but NO ONE takes her or even makes the effort. I made an appointment for her but since she isn’t my dog, I don’t think they’ll let me take her. Is that neglect?
You make an excellent point that it is important for us to choose a qualified animal hospital for our pets.
My wife and I would like to have our dogs checked. I will look into reliable hospital for our pets.
I’m looking someone to go check on my cousins aniamls she has to cats and a puppy and she doesn’t believe me when I tell her she needs to clean her house cause it can make her and her pets sick literally theres poop and pee everywhere and none of her animals barely eat I feed the puppy yesterday and she got mad over it and im hoping when I do call animal control it will give her a wake up call to get her stuff together and do better for her pets
I was delivering packages today and I saw I dog in a crate on a porch in 95 degree weather. When I approached the porch I notice the dog and the bottom of the crate was FULL AND OVERFLOWING of liquid. The only thing I could smell was urine. I’m assuming it was urine. The dog. Was standing with one leg up and looked so sad. The little girl came outside that lived there. But she prolly doesn’t even understand how wrong that it due to her family. Anyways. I called the police. And they said someone will go out to check on the situation.
So what now. I just wait and wonder ?? I can’t stop thinking about that dog. It looked sad. I could only imagine it has left that cage in hella long and probably drinks it’s own urine.
Is there anyways to get a follow up with the police or do I have to wonder forever.
Thank you for calling the police. You can absolutely call them back and ask what happened with the dog, and they may tell you. You can continue checking on the dog and see if it is still outside. Continue calling the police when you see neglect or abuse. That way there is a record of a pattern of abuse. But please continue calling and reporting!
At what point do people actually mind their own business? I have been terribly sick for the last couple years and don’t walk my dogs daily, being handicapped and in a wheelchair makes it difficult to be taking them on 30 minute walks twice a day. They go out to potty and poo, are sooo loved and exercise around the house but people complain constantly. Instead of offering to help, they think i should turn them over to the humane society. They are in perfect health, fed healthy foods, and loved and truly happy. What do you think?
We do not mind our business when a soul is in need of help. “See something, say something”
I had read all of this comments and I have to say that animals have no rights at all. This frase “give a voice to the voiceless”it’s just a laugh. My neighbor has a cat inside a 12×16 garage with no windows or any air circulation. Just in this dark awful garage crying day and night. I had contacted every single organization there is even PETA and my last resort was calling the police with no success. The ASPCA won’t do a thing and the animal police that is supposed to help would not even give it a thought. All they want is money. People would call to try and save an animal in need and there’s no compassion from any organization out there. I am really emotionally distressed knowing that this cat don’t matter to anyone. Mental anguish suffering what this cat is going through.
Hi Lilian,
Where are you located? Are you in a HOA? You could contact your HOA about a noise complaint. Have you tried to call animal control to do a wellness check?
There is a woman named Shanna she lives at 491 s r 506 10 toledo wa 98591 exit 59 river oaks rv park.they have a white chihuahua..this dog is male.and he has sever .hemmriods that hang from his bottom.big they won’t do anything to help this I gave my vets number and name.and even take for check up.or something this dog is violent he tries to bite people and she says that all of sudden and he has mood swings alot.come to find out she does really bad drugs my husband caught her doing meth.we think the reason the dog is doing this is bec she doing these drugs by or in the room of the dog.we know that the dog smells really weird my husband said maybe that is why too.this poor animal.please check the well being of this animal please this is animal neglect and abuse.i don’t know what u do to check to see if the dog has drugs in his hair and skin which we know it does.please check on well being of this animal
Hello,
Thank you for speaking up for their chihuahua. Your local animal control with be able to help. Give them a call, and ask them to do a wellness check on the animal.
I have two neighbors across the street and I hear dogs barking and whining while I walk by and they have multiple cars out front of people walking in to both residences but they haven’t had dogs outside. I’m afraid they may be dogfighting houses. They live on an alley and there are cars parked blocking the garage doors and at night multiple cars parked in the alley but no cars ever leave their garage. I believe they’re dogfighting in the garage or maybe breeders, possibly both.
Hi Kyle,
I would voice your concerns to your local animal control officer and ask them to do a wellness check on the animals.
I have reported a case of animal cruelty and neglect to 911 here in Mississippi twice and even my mother reported it. They haven’t even visited this mobile home to check on the dogs. I live right next door and I can see the comings and goings and no one has even been there to check on these two unfortunate dogs. I don’t know what else to do at this point.
Hi Leigh,
Thank you for making your reports for the animals. I am sorry that nothing has been done. Since you have already tried the police, I would reach out to your local animal control officer and ask them to do a wellness check on the animals.
Hi, I’m trying to determine what I can possibly do in this situation. I live in a condo/HOA community. The dog I’m concerned about is a small breed. From the glimpse of him/her I caught it may be a Pomeranian. You can tell the dog hasn’t been to a groomer. The hair appears to be thick and matted in spots. The person lives on the top floor of my building. She renting the unit from the owner. She never walks the dog. Clearly he isn’t getting any exercise. We never see him outside. She leaves him on the patio barking and howling all day. She will leave him on the balcony while she leaves for the day. Sometimes as late as 2am. The dog uses the restroom on the balcony which seeps down to all the units below including mine. She even sweeps his poop over the balcony. We have to clean and disinfect daily. And are not able to sit on our own balconies. We’ve left notes, some have spoken to her directly. When spoken to, she claims a “friend” was pet sitting and she would be sure it doesn’t happen again. Tuh! We’ve filed multiple complaints with the HOA. They state they are working on it but having difficulty reaching the actual owner of the unit. I believe the cops have come out once regarding the barking. Which stopped for maybe a week. This has been going on since August. Some people really shouldn’t be allowed to have pets. What can we do????
Hello Brian, contacting your HOA, which you have done, would have been my first suggestion. Please continue to follow up with them. Persistence may be what they need to help resolve this issue.
What can I do when I’ve repeatedly complained to animal control about a dog that is tied up 24/7 and is on a short rope? He once told me he doesn’t like to go on their property because the owner isn’t very friendly towards police or anyone associated with them such as the animal control officer is in my area.
Hello Cara,
Thank you for speaking up for the animals. Have you tried telling animal control that you are a concerned citizen and would like them to do a wellness check on the animal? If they still do not want to offer assistance, you could go to the police for help and ask them to check on the animal. It sounds like you are in a tough situation, but persistence and documenting what you see are key in this case. Is there an HOA in that area? Does the dog bark at night?
I live in an apartment complex and my neighbors have what looks like a puppy on their porch. There is feces from the dog all over the porch and there appears to be two bowls on the porch but both were empty when I saw it around 5:30pm. I have another neighbor who said they witnessed the dog out on the porch around 8:45am. I have checked on the dog again around 10:30pm and it was still out there. I felt so bad for him that I gave him a bottle of water. I am unsure how long he has been out there and when the last time he had food in his bowl but I am concerned that if I give him food he will be sick. I am planning on setting alarms to check on him throughout the night. I am unsure if I should contact animal control for a welfare check. I don’t want to seem like I’m being over dramatic about the situation. What should I do?
Hello, Leigh. Thank you for speaking up for the animals. That sounds like a very sad situation. If you have seen the dog without food and water and living in an unsanitary environment, then it is best to reach out to your local animal control. Let them know that you are a concerned citizen and would like them to preform a wellness check on the animal.
Hi. I live in an apartment complex- my upstairs neighbor has a puppy that I feel is being neglected.
I say that because from sunrise to sunset, and pretty much daily, the poor thing is doing nothing but crying all day. I think they put it in the restroom or a closet?? Our walls our very thin. I know it doesn’t get any interaction with anyone. And in the evening time, they put it outside in the balcony, where everyone around me can hear it crying as well. And it would stay out there no less than 2 hours or more. It’s a miserable cry, -needing attention. I would like to have a welfare check on it please, but I did want to double check and make sure you would agree?? Oh, and today, haven’t heard the puppy cry until after noon. Then it started. Poor thing can barely do that it is so exhausted and hoarse. Please help??
Hi Fran, I agree with you. Please call animal control and ask them to do a welfare check to make sure the puppy is okay.
I come from Utah to Idaho to visit family.
For years now, my sister’s backyard neighbors have had their dog chained to a tree through all seasons, for years. This dog is NEVER off his chain.
Freezing through the cold winter and extreme hot summers.
We have called the local authorities several times throughout the years, nobody does anything. They do not care around this part to do anything about this situation.
The dog is aggressive toward people of course and on a very thick heavy chain.
I have come to the point I can’t watch this poor animals abuse any longer!
I am reaching out to YOU with hopes you will rescue this poor innocent animal and free him of his slavery as HE doesn’t deserve this cruelty any longer.
Please, please free his poor soul!
Hello Glenda, that is heartbreaking. What county is the dog in?
what would you do if you saw a person sitting in a car with 2 dogs that are in a kennel in the heat while his girlfriend is working and he never takes them for walks
Is the car running? Are the windows open? If the dogs look like they are in distress, please call your animal control agency or police department.
I have some neighbors who has had puppies after puppies after puppies I do not take care of them right . They have the big male in the pen with all the puppies and all I hear is yipping can somebody go check on them for me? my address is 163 Brady Woods Ln. statesville
Hi Cris,
Thank you for speaking up for the animals. I would recommend reaching out to your local animal control department and asking them to do a wellness check on the animals. You can also reach out to your local law enforcement and voice your concerns.
My new neighbor has 3 dogs. 2 are pretty skinny, you can see their ribs..and idk if maybe she just rescued them and is trying to put weight on them or if she has had them for a while and isn’t feeding them enough. The owner also just leaves the dogs outside for almost the whole day in their backyard. The dogs keep jumping over their fence and roaming around the neighborhood and the neighbor doesn’t even realize her dogs are missing. Every time I’ve brought one back she says she didn’t know it left. Should I contact someone about this? Perhaps I should ask her how long she’s had the dogs so I can tell if they’re underweight because of her or a past owner.
Hello Liss, if you feel comfortable, you can open up a dialogue and ask her about her dogs. If you determine they are not getting the appropriate care they need, please contact your local animal control and ask them to do a welfare check.
My neighbors have these people visit their home and they live out of their mini van because they are homeless. They have about 6 dogs and they tie them up with a rope outside the mini van and connect the rope to 2 dogs at a time and the other end is connected to a seat in the car. They do this while they go in the front yard and do drugs. A month ago I watched them drive off without one of the dogs so I picked him up. Today the mini van was back and I watched them dump another dog. I eventually found the girl on Facebook and messaged her saying I saw her dump the dog she admitted to me she didn’t want the dog anymore because she was homeless and the dogs are beginning to be too much for her. She still has 4 dogs left apparently who knows where the others are. I have video proof of how she ties them up and I have message proof between her and I on Facebook. I want these other 4 dogs taken from her but my shelter near me is not taking dogs at the time. I don’t know who else to get in contact with or how to go about this. These dogs need to be taken from her and given to someone that will take care of them!