Tips for Reporting Abuse

Witnessing animal cruelty and neglect is a distressing situation. We often are unsure of what to do or who to contact. NHES offers the following tips and resources for reporting animal mistreatment.

If you believe a violation(s) of animal cruelty and neglect laws is occurring:

·         Familiarize yourself with the local and state animal cruelty/neglect laws. What constitutes animal neglect can be especially ambiguous, so be sure to contact animal regulatory agencies for assistance in interpreting the laws.

·         Document the animal cruelty/neglect you suspect is occurring. Dated notes with descriptions of the animal(s), conditions, and other factors along with photos can be very helpful to both investigators and criminal prosecutors. 

NHES does not encourage nor recommend violating laws or putting yourself or other persons or animals in danger while documenting suspected animal mistreatment.

·         As necessary, report your suspicions to more than one agency and conduct follow-up phone calls and emails to ensure the agencies are responding to the situation. Many investigators are overwhelmed with animal abuse complaints and cases; persistent and patient communications with them are important.

·         Plan to keep tabs on the animal care to ensure it is improving, and offer your assistance (see non-violations info. below) or file more complaints if it is not. In many circumstances, animal cruelty investigators will first attempt to educate animal owners and/or issue fines before considering the removal of animals or pressing charges. You can help investigators by keeping a humane eye on the situation.

·         Be prepared to be patient, open-minded and compassionate! Depending on the severity of the situation, it may take much time and persistence to effect the positive animal care and treatment we all know our animal friends deserve. Everything you do to help does make an important difference, no matter how small!

If you believe no violation(s) of animal cruelty and neglect laws is occurring, but know the animal treatment could be much better:

·         Try to find out what is the cause of the less-than-ideal animal care. For instance, rather than quickly condemning seemingly neglectful neighbors, try to find out why the dog is always chained up or why there are so many skinny cats running around: is it lack of caring, or is it lack of knowledge and resources? Are there extenuating life circumstances placing roadblocks to quality animal care?

·         Serve as a living humane example! Demonstrate kind and responsible animal care toward your own pets and toward the animals you wish to help. Offer compassionate education and assistance to people needing it through friendly conversation, educational materials, and animal care items and other resources.  For instance, loan the neighbor your unused dog crate and share with them the benefits of crate training!

·         Organize caring citizens in your city and state to pass a law regulating the issue. Dog chaining/tethering is a perfect example of a situation that does not necessarily break laws, but that should be illegal everywhere!

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