Who to Contact About Cruelty, Abuse or Neglect
Depending on where you live, there will be different agencies to which you can make your report/complaint. If you live in an area which has an animal shelter or humane society, call that facility and ask if they have investigators who can help you by taking your report/complaint or if you need to contact law enforcement officials instead. There are some regions where humane societies employ people whose sole job it is to investigate reports of cruelty or neglect.
If your area does not have animal welfare officials who can take your report/complaint, you will need to contact local law enforcement authorities. If you live within city or town limits, call your local police department. (In some small towns, law enforcement is provided pursuant to an agreement with a larger city or a county. Town officials will be able to tell you who enforces the laws in your area.) If you live outside city or town limits, call the Sheriff’s Office. Both city police departments and county/parish Sheriff’s Offices are responsible for enforcing all of the laws of the state. Law enforcement agencies are paid with tax dollars. You have the right to be the proverbial “squeaky wheel” and make sure that they are willing and able to respond to your concerns. The reality of law enforcement is that the focus is keeping people in the community safe. This means that there may be times when you feel that your reports is not being given priority or is not being taken seriously. The only way to communicate with local authorities that the matter is important to you and that you expect help is to demand that help.
If your area does not have animal welfare officials who can take your report/complaint, you will need to contact local law enforcement authorities. If you live within city or town limits, call your local police department. (In some small towns, law enforcement is provided pursuant to an agreement with a larger city or a county. Town officials will be able to tell you who enforces the laws in your area.) If you live outside city or town limits, call the Sheriff’s Office. Both city police departments and county/parish Sheriff’s Offices are responsible for enforcing all of the laws of the state. Law enforcement agencies are paid with tax dollars. You have the right to be the proverbial “squeaky wheel” and make sure that they are willing and able to respond to your concerns. The reality of law enforcement is that the focus is keeping people in the community safe. This means that there may be times when you feel that your reports is not being given priority or is not being taken seriously. The only way to communicate with local authorities that the matter is important to you and that you expect help is to demand that help.
What to Report
Before you contact anyone or any agency regarding a situation related to animal welfare, you need to gather information and/or materials to submit in support of your report/complaint. General details or emotional statements which are based on something reported to you by someone else will not get you far. In order for some action to be taken on your complaint, you must provide the agency to which you report your complaint the tools they can use to help resolve the situation. They will need specific, detailed information and materials which can be used as “evidence.” (NOTE: There are some locations which allow for on-line, automated reports of cruelty and neglect. Before submitting a complaint, check with local authorities to determine if this type of reporting is an option for you.)
• Prepare a concise, written, factual statement of what you observed. You will need to give dates and approximate times whenever possible. You will need to be very specific in describing the nature of your complaint. Your statement can be typed or handwritten.
• Take photographs of the location, the animals in question and the surrounding area provided you can do so without putting yourself in danger and without committing any crimes. NEVER enter another person’s property without permission, and exercise great caution around unfamiliar animals who may be frightened or in pain. If you have the ability to record video in addition to the photographs you take, without putting yourself in danger and without breaking the law, that will also be of use to enforcement officials.
• Prepare a list of the names and contact information of other people who have firsthand information about the situation and who are willing to support your report/complaint. It is advisable to check with those individuals first to see if they are willing to support your complaint or are not willing to do so.
• Prepare a concise, written, factual statement of what you observed. You will need to give dates and approximate times whenever possible. You will need to be very specific in describing the nature of your complaint. Your statement can be typed or handwritten.
• Take photographs of the location, the animals in question and the surrounding area provided you can do so without putting yourself in danger and without committing any crimes. NEVER enter another person’s property without permission, and exercise great caution around unfamiliar animals who may be frightened or in pain. If you have the ability to record video in addition to the photographs you take, without putting yourself in danger and without breaking the law, that will also be of use to enforcement officials.
• Prepare a list of the names and contact information of other people who have firsthand information about the situation and who are willing to support your report/complaint. It is advisable to check with those individuals first to see if they are willing to support your complaint or are not willing to do so.