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Top 10 Ways to Fight Animal Cruelty
1. Be aware. Without phone calls from the concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn't know about most instances of animal abuse. It all comes from the public, it all starts with YOU—that's why it's so important to keep your eyes and ears open. Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you're more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly—a possible indicator of abuse.
2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Here are some signs and symptoms that we see in many of the cases we investigate: - Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal's death.
- Wounds on the body.
- Patches of missing hair.
- Extremely thin, starving animals.
- Limping.
- An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.
- Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.
- Dogs who have been hit by cars-or are showing any of the signs listed above-and have not been taken to a veterinarian.
- Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.
- Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners. 3. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. We're lucky here at the ASPCA in New York City, because we have Humane Law Enforcement officers who have the power to investigate and arrest perpetrators of animal cruelty in the state of New York. But every state and even every town is different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact local animal control or another municipal agency. If you aren't sure where to report cruelty, you can search our Humane Law Enforcement directory or ask your local humane organization. 4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting the investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place. 5. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME—and the police MUST investigate these crimes. 6. Know your state's animal cruelty laws. These vary from state to state, and even from city to city. You can visit the ASPCA's website and get a wallet-sized printout with outlines of the animal welfare laws in all 50 states. 7. Fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade. It's frustrating when I have built a strong case against someone who has been arrested for cruelty to animals and the judge treats it like a simple violation. But with stronger laws, they'll be more likely to receive tougher penalties. As an ASPCA Advocacy Brigade member, you'll receive emails asking you to write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws-and you can send them directly from our website. 8. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care that they deserve. But it's more than just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your animals spayed or neutered. And I always give my own pets lots of hugs when I get home! 9. Talk to your kids about how to treat animals with kindness and respect. I regularly see children in homes where animal abuse has been reported. If a parent isn't treating the family's pets right, I tell kids that their dog or cat would really appreciate fresh water every day, or if they spent some time playing with them. If the animal has been left outside without shelter, I'll say, 'You have a nice house, and if you get cold, you can put a coat on. But your dog can't do that. Don't you think he'd like a nice warm place to go, too?' I know of families who watch Animal Precinct together, and I think this can help children understand that animals are living creatures who have the ability to feel pain, joy and sadness. You can see these emotions on the faces of the animals on the show. 10. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. Before I even knew that police for animals existed, I was volunteering at an animal shelter. It's a great way to make a difference. Some of our ASPCA volunteers foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. You can find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area in our National Shelter Directory.
Hey, kids! Officer Lucas has some tips on fighting cruelty just for you!
ASPCA
What To Do If You Spot Animal Abuse
If you think that an animal is being abused or neglected, it is important that you do something about it. Your involvement may be the animals only hope.
Where to Start
First, find out which agency is responsible for investigating and enforcing the anti-cruelty laws in your state, county, or town. This may be a local humane society or SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or a taxpayer-funded animal shelter (animal control). In jurisdictions without a humane society or animal-management department, citizens can call upon the police or sheriffs department to enforce the law.
If the animal victim is not in immediate need of rescue, check state and local animal-protection laws by visiting your local library or city hall or by conducting an .. search. Print out a copy of any laws that you believe are being violated, and be ready to cite these laws to authorities. In most states, causing an animal unnecessary suffering is illegal. That term can include everything from beating an animal to depriving him or her of clean water, food, or shelter.
If the animal is in a life-threatening situation, call authorities immediately. Follow up with them in a timely manner to determine their findings and course of action. If they do not respond right away, call PETA.
Gathering Evidence
Once you have determined which law-enforcement agency to contact (and ensured that the animal is not in imminent danger), provide authorities with a short, concise, factual, written statement, detailing the key points of what you have observed and giving dates, locations, and approximate times. Timely fact-gathering is crucial, the more time that passes, the greater the risk that specifics will be forgotten, witnesses will move, evidence will disappear, injuries will heal, etc. If you can, take pictures and date them; photographic or videotaped evidence fortifies your case, and short, factual, written statements from other witnesses will back up your observations.
Always keep a record of everyone you contact (official or otherwise), the dates of the contacts, and the content and outcome of your discussions. Never pass on a letter, photograph, or any documentation without first creating a copy for your file. Make it crystal clear to authorities that you wish to pursue this case and are willing to lend your assistance if necessary, and be sure to follow up! If you stay involved, they're more likely to do the same.
Law-enforcement officials should inspect the animal visually, and if possible, conduct a hands-on field exam (referred to as palpating the animal) in order to find injuries or an otherwise unhealthy physical condition that may be obscured by the victims fur. Officials will often be fooled by a dog who acts happy, but manic or social behavior does not mean that the animal is safe; he or she may just be anxious to please or desperate for attention. A more thorough examination is necessary, and an injured or clearly endangered animal must not be left behind. The crime scene should also be thoroughly inspected for any indication that abuse has occurred. Suspects and neighbors (potential witnesses) should be interviewed. If the investigator agrees that your complaint has merit, a warning may be issued, charges filed, a warrant served, and/or the animal(s) removed.
Pursuing Your Case
Persistence has saved countless animals from abusive people. If you are unable to get satisfaction from law-enforcement officers, go straight to their supervisors. If necessary, appeal to local government officials, such as the mayor, prosecutor, city council members, or county commissioners. A simple call to the media (TV and print) in your area can move mountains. News coverage often forces officials to act and can also scare the abuser into stopping the cruel behavior. News coverage may also inspire viewers who have seen similar acts to step forward and share their own accounts.
If you have personally witnessed an act of cruelty, you can go to your local magistrate or police commissioner and swear out a warrant to summon the abuser to court. Expert witnesses can be very helpfula veterinarian, for example, can sign a statement that it is his or her expert opinion that a dog suffers if swung by a leash, deprived of food, etc. If you know a sympathetic veterinarian, seek his or her assistance, and let officials know that you have expert support.
Call PETA for Help
Advocating for abused or neglected animals can be difficult and heart-wrenching, but they are depending on you to find the strength to take action. You are in the position to make all the difference in the world for the animals in your community. Please feel free to contact PETA if you need guidance or support, or if officials fail to respond quickly to your complaint.
www.peta.com
Help to prevent Cruelty on the Internet Web sites that either depict or suggest cruelty to animals are typically created by people who feel threatened by animal rights or who simply want to get attention. Most of these sites are intended to be offensive "jokes" and use fake, deceptive images. The owners of these malicious Web sites know that compassionate people will be upset and tell their friends about the site, bringing more visitors to it and making it a more valuable space for advertising. Unfortunately, the good intentions of caring people can actually benefit the Web site owners they are trying to stop. While it's tempting to argue with people at these sites, it's not in the best interests of animals, and it is better not to encourage others to visit the site. Cleaning Up the Internet These steps explain how to target cruel sites constructively: - Contact the Web site's hosting company or Internet Service Provider (ISP) and explain why the site should be removed. Internic.com provides ISP information for most Web sites.
- Write to companies that advertise on the cruel site. Let them know why you won't support them.
- If you feel that the site depicts something illegal, report it, with a detailed description of the illegal act, to the Department of Justice's division for Internet crime.
- Write to companies that make Internet screening software, which is used by parents to prevent their children from visiting adult sites, and ask that the software also exclude Web sites depicting cruelty to animals
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