Animals cannot speak for themselves so it’s up to us to speak for them and report any animal abuse that you see or suspect. If you want to report animal cruelty, you must familiarize yourself with local state laws. Recognize the signs of abuse and be willing to report it. Did you know that animal cruelty is illegal in every state and is a felony in 46 states? It should be a felony in all 50 states. When an incident of animal cruelty is reported, it’s the agency’s responsibility to respond.  As soon as you see or suspect animal cruelty, make the call. Most towns have a a local animal control department, animal shelter or humane society. Do an online search to identify the agency in your area, and program the number into your cell phone so you are prepared.

Document all of the details. Make sure that you have all of the facts correct. Include the date, time, location, what happened and the people that were involved. If you see the abuse, take a picture or video with your cellphone. This will really help prove your case.

Be willing to testify. Animals cannot speak for themselves so it’s up to you . The case will be much stronger if you are there to report the abuse in court.

Always be aware of dogs that are chained up all day in  the hot sun or if you hear the owners screaming or hitting them. Take note of the amount of pets that the neighbors have and if the pets look healthy. An emancipated dog or cat is a telltale sign of animal abuse and should be reported immediately.

Listen to the sounds of a dog or cat in an abandoned home. My younger cat Millie was found by rescuers in a home that was abandoned after Hurricane Katrina. Take the steps and do what’s right. You won’t regret it!

Remember, your pets count!

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