Reporting Animal Abuse
Animal abuse is more than just an unkind act; it is illegal. If you are aware of animal abuse, you should immediately report it to the proper authorities. You'll probably perform a better service than you realize.
Why Report Animal Abuse?
Some people wonder if reporting an incident of animal abuse is really necessary. After all, the person may have just had a bad day and taken it out on the animal. It probably won't happen again, right?
In reality, anyone who abuses an animal once will almost inevitably do it again. Moreover, animal cruelty is often accompanied by crimes against humans, such as domestic violence or drug use. Even if you see a child abusing an animal, please do not hesitate to contact the authorities. If the child goes uncorrected the abuse will probably continue and even escalate. Furthermore, the child may be acting out behavior learned from parents on the only weaker family member there is: the pet. Child abuse is a common cause of children abusing animals. In cases like these, reporting the animal cruelty could very well lead to the discovery of child abuse.
Whom Do You Contact?
Whom you should contact to report animal abuse varies from location to location. More populated areas often have a department of Animal Control or Humane Law Enforcement. Otherwise, contact the local police, sheriff's department, or humane society. Call 911 if you see an act of animal abuse in progress but don't know what agency handles such cases in your area.
