How to take action and report animal cruelty

Animal cruelty is a significant, ongoing problem, with an estimated 10 million animals dying every year from animal abuse in the United States alone. 

Many organizations and individuals, including those starting animal rights petitions, are actively fighting back against violence and mistreatment of animals. If you witness animal cruelty, reporting it is critical to helping the abused animal and an important action to take as an animal rights advocate. 

Learn how to identify animal cruelty and follow these steps for reporting it when you see it occur.

Understand the animal cruelty laws in your state

Understanding your state’s animal cruelty laws is key to knowing what actions you can take. Review this map to see the anti-cruelty laws for all 50 states, covering everything from dogfighting to neglect, abandonment, and more. Some states include specific chapters for livestock versus non-livestock animals. Typical exceptions include regulated hunting, fishing, animal husbandry, food production, legitimate medical research, and pest control.

Where you’ll find these laws can vary from the state’s penal code, grouped with other criminal laws, or in sections labeled “crimes against property” since domesticated pets are considered property. Sometimes they’re listed under chapters on “moral offenses,” or in the agriculture or animal sections instead of the criminal code.

You can also refer to the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s (ALDF) annual ranking of states’ animal protection laws from weakest to strongest. The report evaluates states by different categories, including laws in place for different areas of abuse, laws requiring reporting animal cruelty, and penalties and sentencing for convicted abusers. The report notes that laws vary dramatically from state to state. For example, some states don’t require guardians to provide shelter to animals at all, and some have very strict and detailed shelter requirements.

In 2023, the top five states with the strongest animal protection laws were Oregon, Maine, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Colorado. The worst five states with the weakest laws were Kentucky, South Carolina, Idaho, Alabama, and North Dakota.

Recognizing signs of animal cruelty

Understanding what designates animal cruelty is important for identifying it and knowing when to report it. Cases involving dogs, cats, horses, and livestock are the most commonly reported, but protections are in place for other domesticated and companion animals, and some wild animals, depending on state laws. The following are the main categories of animal cruelty to be aware of. 

Neglect

The most common type of animal cruelty is neglect. Animal neglect happens when the owner or guardian doesn’t provide basic needs, like food, water, shelter, or necessary veterinary care. This includes animals that are kept in cages or tied up with restricted mobility, or anytime someone deprives their animals of essential necessities. 

Hoarding is also a type of neglect. Animal hoarding is when animals are kept in unsafe, unhealthy, and overcrowded confined spaces. ALDF estimates that 250,000 animals a year are hoarding victims.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse involves deliberately harming an animal through actions like hitting, kicking, or other forms of violence that cause injury or pain.

Abandonment

Abandonment occurs when pets are left behind without care, often when people move, pass away, or no longer want the responsibility, leaving the animals to fend for themselves. Abandonment and neglect can also include leaving animals locked in vehicles, especially in extreme weather. This can lead to severe distress, heatstroke, or even death due to high temperatures and lack of ventilation.

Organized Cruelty

Organized cruelty includes activities like dogfighting and cockfighting, where animals are bred, trained, and forced to fight for entertainment, often resulting in severe injuries or death.

Puppy mills are a bit of a gray area when it comes to criminalized animal cruelty. As the Humane Society notes, puppy mills aren’t usually illegal. However, many of them keep animals in cages, practice overbreeding, and don’t provide healthy or safe conditions. The HSUS does work to change legislation around puppy mills, conduct investigations, and raise awareness about abusive puppy mills. There are also many petitions to stop puppy mills on Change.org that you can support.

How to report animal cruelty

If you’ve observed a case of animal cruelty, these are the steps to take to report it.

Contact the appropriate authorities

Reach out to your local animal control, humane society, or law enforcement agency. You can also contact a local animal cruelty hotline if available. If you witness a crime in progress, call 911.

Make an official report and provide a statement

Give a clear and detailed account of what you witnessed. Be prepared to provide your contact information, though you may be able to report anonymously. Include specific details like the location, date, and time of the incident(s), parties involved, descriptions of the animals, and exactly what you observed.

Share any photographic or video evidence

It’s helpful to provide photos or videos as evidence, ensuring they were taken on public property or private property where you had permission to be.

Follow up on your report

Check back with the authorities after a few days to see if any action was taken or if additional information is needed. Your follow-up can help ensure the case isn’t overlooked.

Document everything

Keep your own records of what you reported, including dates, times, and any communication you have with the authorities.

Stay safe

Avoid confronting the abuser directly, as this could put you or the animal in danger. Let the authorities handle the investigation.

Take action: Reporting animal cruelty makes a difference

By reporting animal cruelty, you may be saving an animal’s life and preventing future animal abuse. It’s an important part of animal advocacy. If animal rights and protection is a cause that matters to you, learn how you can be an impactful animal rights activist in our guide.