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REPORTING ANIMAL NEGLECT AND/OR ABUSE

All domestic animals depend upon people to meet their basic needs for FOOD, WATER, SHELTER and CARE. Animals in trouble cannot ask for help. Unless someone speaks up for them their suffering will continue. The Humane Societies rely on caring people to report animal cruelty and neglect.

Failure to provide adequate food, water, appropriate shelter and proper care constitutes NEGLECT. The use of physical force sufficient to cause injury to an animal constitutes ABUSE. NEGLECT and/or ABUSE to animals constitutes CRUELTY, which is against the law.

FOOD: Of sufficient quality and amount to maintain an acceptable level of health.

WATER: Of sufficient quality and amount to maintain an acceptable level of health.

SHELTER: A sufficient structure to protect confined animals from wind, rain, and freezing snow. Also shade must be available for confined animals in hot weather.

CARE: (1) Sufficient Space for each animal, this includes size of pens, number of animals per pen and length of chain if thus contained. Regulations vary from State to State and some Provinces.

CARE: (2) Any animal who is injured, sick, in pain or suffering must receive a proper level of care, treatment and/or not allowed to continue to be in pain or suffering.

CARE (3) No animal shall be subjected to undue hardship, distress, privation or neglect.

Investigators from humane societies require a certain amount of information in order to open a file and investigate an incident or complaint. The NUMBER ONE hesitation for concerned people who are doing the right thing in reporting Neglect or Abuse is they don’t want to give out their name, address and phone number. Some States and Provinces may accept the complaint without your name, address and phone number but some will not. Your name and identity is Confidential Information and will not be given out to anyone at anytime. IF IN DOUBT, CONTACT YOUR AREAS HUMANE OFFICIALS AND CLARIFY YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY. BUT PLEASE THINK OF THE ANIMALS AND IF YOU DON'T REPORT THEIR SUFFERING, HOW CAN THEY BE RESCUED OR HELPED!!!

Be prepared to give the following information.

1. Your name, address and phone number.
2. If possible the name of the person who owns or is in charge of caring for the animal(s). But most important the address or exact location of the animal(s).
3. The nature of the problem. You must be able to tell them as much as possible about everything. Is it Neglect as in lack of food, water, shelter, proper care or is it Abuse and what abuse you or someone else has actually witnessed.
4. The description of the animal(s). Type, breed, coat color, etc.

You can find the name and number of your local humane society or animal control agency by looking in the Yellow Pages of your phone book under "animal shelter", "humane society", or "animal control agency" or by calling Information. If there is not a shelter or animal control agency in your community, then look under the nearest large city center as chances are they are in charge of your area or know who is. If still not able to find assistance, please report directly to your local police department. They will know whom to call or may be the investigating officers for your area themselves.

MOST OF ALL, NEVER GIVE UP!!! IF NO ONE RESPONDS TO YOUR COMPLAINT, COMPLAIN AGAIN AND AGAIN IF NESCESSARY. GET FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS WHO HAVE ALSO WITNESSED THE NEGLECT OR ABUSE TO CALL IN TOO!!! IT’S SAD TO SAY, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE CALL, EVEN FROM MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO GET HELP.

This document is intended as a guideline for reporting animal Abuse/Neglect only. Laws differ from one locality to another. In Canada, please go to www.cfhs.ca Canadian Federation Of Humane Societies. In the United States, please go to www.aspca.org American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals. Or www.hsus.org Humane Society Of The United States.