Reporting Abuse

If you witness a situation where an animal is being abused or neglected, do not ignore the situation. It is imperative that you take action quickly. A delay could allow the situation to be temporarily corrected (so no action can be taken) or the animal could die while waiting for help.

You need to carefully document all problems that you have seen. You don't want to forget any details. Don't rely on your memory. Write EVERYTHING you have seen and make a copy for yourself and the officer. List any witnesses that have seen the abuse/neglect , the owners name, the animal involved, the officers name, etc. If the conditions are filthy, describe that the best way possible. If possible, take pictures. There is no better way to describe a horrific situation. Don't ever give your original documentation to anyone. Keep everything.

You need to know the laws in your state. A situation might not seem ok to you, but it might be legal. If there is no law broken, the officer can't do anything.

Some signs of abuse/neglect are lack of food/water/shelter, open sores, untreated injuries, etc.

Click herefor Maryland's animal abuse/neglect law

Click here for the law concerning aggravated cruelty

When you call Animal Control or law enforcement, be polite and don't over-react (even though you feel that way and it could very well be justified). They are much more likely to listen if you are calm. If you are able, leave your name and contact information. Be specific with your complaint. Include a detailed explanation of what you saw and which animals were affected. Be prepared to fight for what is right and be sure to follow-through with the complaint. Let the officer know that you intend to press charges if abuse is indeed proven to have occurred. If nothing else works to resolve the situation, use the media (TV, radio, newspaper) as a last resort.

If the abuse/neglect involves a pet store, notify management and try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Assume that they are simply uneducated and then try to work with them to solve the problems. If it seems like you are not making any progress, then contact Animal Control in your area.

If you live in Maryland, you may contact MD Ferret PAWS, Inc. for some assistance. We are here to help!