Animal Abuse

If You Suspect Animal Abuse

When believing an animal is being abused, here are a few simple steps to take in order to help:

Know the laws

Massachusetts General Laws requires a duty of care of providing basic necessities to the animal -food, water, and shelter. And, besides preventing neglect, never engage in or permit physical abuse.

Document the abuse

Document information such as time of an incident, person committing the act (description of person, if identity is unknown) exact location (such as proper address of where the animal lives or license plate of vehicle being driven), and as much information as you can legally gather about each animal being abused or neglected (kind, breed, color, size, where the animal is kept).

Know who to call

It is not a good idea to intervene in an incident. Instead, contact proper law enforcement agencies such as the local police and/or animal control. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Rescue League of Boston have specially trained Law Enforcement Officers who are commissioned as special state police officers to investigate animal cruelty. They are highly trained and deeply concerned.

If the life of an animal is in immediate danger, contact the local police at once.

For more helpful information use these links: