Help Stop Animal Cruelty in Your Neighborhood

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Quick summary: Animal cruelty and neglect are on the rise in Texas. If you witness an animal being abused or suffering from neglect, don't assume someone else will intervene. Animal protection agencies and local police depend on concerned citizens like you to alert them to animal abuse.

You May Be An Animal's Only Hope

Animal cruelty and neglect are on the rise in Texas. If you witness an animal being abused or suffering from neglect, don't assume someone else will intervene. Animal protection agencies and local police depend on concerned citizens like you to alert them to animal abuse. Common types of animal abuse or neglect to look out for:

A dog left chained outside without food, water or adequate shelter.
A sick or injured animal whose condition goes untreated.
An animal showing obvious signs of abuse.
A neighborhood child tormenting animals.
Pets left behind in homes, apartments, garages, or on the street when their owners move.

"Birk" was abandoned by his previous owner who left him in a garage for weeks with no food or water. He was rescued by a cruelty investigator, who rushed him to the Houston Humane Society medical center. Suffering from extreme malnourishment, dehydration, and infections, he received emergency treatment, followed by five months of long-term care. The photo at the top shows a fully recovered Birk with a shelter volunteer who helped him regain his strength and spirit. Birk now lives in a new home with a loving family.

If you witness abuse or neglect, the Texas Humane Legislation Network suggests you take the following actions:

Write down as much information as possible, including the name, address, and description of the person involved, a description of the animal, the actions you witnessed and any weapon or instruments used. If you see physical signs of abuse or neglect, take photographs if possible. Don't put yourself at risk through direct confrontation. Call the police, your local animal shelter or animal control agency immediately.

You can choose to remain anonymous, although giving your name to your humane agency will enable that group to follow up with you when necessary.

If you know of a domestic situation in which someone is in danger, contact the police or your local domestic violence hotline. Often, domestic violence victims stay in their homes to protect their pets. If you know there are pets in the home, tell the police and contact your local animal shelter. Make the call, even if you make it anonymously.

If you notice that an elderly neighbor's pet is suddenly left outside or appears to be sick, this could be a sign that your neighbor is in trouble.
Contact social services and your local animal shelter. If possible, make a personal call to your neighbor to offer assistance.

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.

Other animal care organizations in your community can be found through web sites such as www.Pets911.com and www.hsus.org.

Related Resources: Helpful Information

Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) - Promoting the humane treatment of animals through legislation, education and advocacy

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