1) Be aware. Without concerned citizens reporting abuse and neglect, we would never know about most instances of cruelty. It all starts with you. That’s why it is so vital to keep your eyes and ears open. Get to know, and look out for the animals in and around your neighborhood.
2) Recognize the signs. Signs most often witnessed, but not limited to, include:
- A dog outside in extreme weather conditions without proper shelter for long periods
- Not providing adequate food or water
- Striking or torturing an animal
- "Sport" fighting (dog fighting)
- Cowering or aggressiveness when approached by the owner(s)
- Ignoring illness or injury, and not seeking medical treatment, e.g. Flea or tick infestation, missing hair or fur, emaciation, limping, embedded collar (too tight cutting into dog’s neck, most typically caused by not being resized as dog grows)
3) Provide as much information as possible. The descriptive details you provide can go a long way toward assisting investigations. Write down the type of cruelty witnessed, who was involved, the date and time of incident, and where it occurred. Pictures and/or video are even better.
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