March 2009
What You Can Do
If You Witness Animal Cruelty in Your Community
Chances are, if you have witnessed animal cruelty in your community, so have other people. Acts of cruelty might be considered intentionally violent: hitting, kicking, or hurting animals. Or it might be considered neglect; for example: chained dogs with no shelter, food, or water. Your voice can make a difference—send a message to your community that animal cruelty is unacceptable!
- Animal cruelty should always be reported to the local animal control service, the local humane society, and the police department. If in doubt, call 9-1-1. Animal abuse is a crime, and the dispatcher will be able to connect you to the appropriate department.
- Write letters to your local paper to be published in the Letters to the Editor section, bringing attention to the animal cruelty problem in your community.
- Write letters or make phone calls to prosecutors in your area who are prosecuting animal cruelty cases, asking them to ensure all animals are removed from the abusers, and prohibiting them from owning animals in the future. Attend open hearings to support the animals who cannot speak for themselves.
- Write letters to legislators asking for stricter animal cruelty laws in your state. You’d be surprised what the power of a letter can do when election time is coming! Legislators will listen to their constituents—especially if lots of people feel the same way about an issue. So, have a letter-writing party and get your like-minded friends together to campaign on behalf of animals!
Need help locating officials? If you are looking for a prosecutor, try www.prosecutor.info; or if you are looking for your representatives’ contact information, try http://thomas.loc.gov.
Keep in mind that research has proven there is a link between animal cruelty and violence toward humans. Parents who abuse their companion animals are more likely to abuse their children. Reporting animal abuse could save a human life!
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