Crime & Courts - What You Can Do About Animal Abuse

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The recent discovery of two abused puppies has raised awareness about animal abuse. Here are several questions and answers about what can be done about neglect and cruelty. The information is furnished by the Humane Society of the United States.

Frequently asked questions about animal cruelty

What is animal cruelty?


Why is it a concern?




Why would anyone be cruel to animals?


What happens when authorities prosecute an animal cruelty case?


Can reports be made anonymously?


Will I be required to testify?


Reporting animal abuse and neglect

What should I do if I witness an animal being mistreated?


These dedicated agencies have the important job of ensuring that animals in their jurisdiction receive proper food, water, and shelter, and are protected from abandonment and cruel treatment. The prevention of cruelty to animals represents the core mission of many local animal care organizations. Investigation requests can come from members of the community or other law enforcement agencies.

How are complaints investigated?

While the exact process may vary depending on the local laws and procedures, an officer will look into the complaint to see if animal cruelty statutes have been violated. If in fact a violation has occurred, the officer may speak with the owner and issue a citation and give the owner a chance to correct the violation.

The majority of cruelty complaints stem from simple neglect of the animal, rather than deliberate abuse. The humane officer's biggest role is as an educator - informing well-meaning, but unknowledgeable, pet owners of the proper care of their pets.

In rare cases, animal neglect or abuse may be extreme and require immediate intervention. Depending on the circumstances, the animals may be removed from the situation by the humane agency to protect them from further harm. The agency will present the case to the prosecutor's office for further evaluation and possible prosecution. Some agencies have the power to obtain and serve warrants; other agencies work closely with local police who execute the search warrant on their behalf.

What happens to the pet owner and the animals in these cases?

State and local laws are written to protect the individuals being prosecuted as well as the animals involved. Such laws also determine how long the animals must be housed at the animal shelter while a case is being processed by the court system. Caring for animals seized in a cruelty case can be an expensive and time-consuming effort. When animals must be housed at the shelter for long periods of time while a case is being processed, it can create stress for both the animals and the staff.

With the best interests of the animals in mind, many states have established civil procedures to allow the agency to petition the general district court in the city or county where the animals were seized for a hearing to expedite custody of the animals to the agency. This type of process prevents a long stay at the shelter for the animals involved while waiting for resolution to the trial, and allows them to be adopted to new, safe homes or humanely euthanized if they are suffering or unsuitable for adoption.

How can I find my local animal care and control agency?

You can find the name and number of your local humane society or animal control agency by looking in your phone book's yellow pages under "animal shelter," "humane society," or "animal control," or by calling Information. Often, public animal care and control agencies are also listed under the city or county health department or police department.

You can also find contact information for animal shelters, animal control agencies, and other animal care organizations in your community through web sites like and If there is not a shelter or animal control agency in your community, please report any incident to your police department immediately.

Facts about chaining and tethering dogs



Is there a problem with continuous chaining or tethering?


Why is tethering dogs inhumane?



Who says tethering dogs is inhumane?



How does tethering or chaining dogs pose a danger to humans?



Why is tethering dangerous to dogs?


Are these dogs dangerous to other animals?


Are tethered dogs otherwise treated well?


Are the areas in which tethered dogs are confined usually comfortable?


Note: Wichita passed laws limiting the tethering of dogs in September 2003. The law limits the length of time a dog can be tied up or chained to three one-hour periods a day, each separated by at least three hours.

But how else can people confine dogs?


Should chaining or tethering ever be allowed?




What about attaching a dog's leash to a "pulley run?"

Attaching a dog's leash to a long line - such as a clothesline or a manufactured device known as a pulley run - and letting the animal have a larger area in which to explore is preferable to tethering the dog to a stationary object. However, many of the same problems associated with tethering still apply, including attacks on or by other animals, lack of socialization, and safety.

What can be done to correct the problem of tethering dogs?

At least 25 communities have passed laws that regulate the practice of tethering animals. Maumelle, Arkansas; Tucson, Arizona; and New Hanover, North Carolina, are a few communities that prohibit the chaining or tethering of dogs as a means of continuous confinement. Many other communities allow tethering only under certain conditions; Jefferson County, Kentucky, for example, prohibits dogs from being tethered for more than eight hours in any 24-hour period.




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