recognizing  and reporting animal abuse or neglect

what is "animal cruelty", "Abuse", or "Neglect"?

Animal abuse (cruelty), or neglect is the infliction of suffering or harm caused to an animal by intentional or unintentional human actions.  It includes willful neglect, such as the withholding of food, water or shelter.  It often results in the animal’s physical pain or death.  

How to RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF animal abuse or neglect

Here are some of the signs that taken together may constitute animal abuse or neglect: 

• Does the ferret appear ill, malnourished or dehydrated, in need of medical intervention? 
• Does the animal’s coat appear dirty, have feces on it, long nails, are there excessive fleas, crusting around the eyes, nose, or mouth? 
• Does the ferret have access to food, clean water and shelter?
• Is the containment area (cage) sufficient in size to allow the ferret to stand up and move around?
• Is the cage excessively dirty, such as excessive dried feces, presence of insects or larvae?
• Is the ferret’s environment inappropriate:  lack of bedding, lack of shelter (allowing rain or snow, excessive temperatures or wind)?    
• Has the ferret been abandoned?   Is there evidence that the ferret has been left alone for long time periods (days) without someone checking in - refreshing food, water, or litter?
• Is the owner “hoarding” animals – keeping too many animals beyond their abilities to maintain reasonable care or hygienic conditions for animals and the people living in the household?
• Are there signs, reports or a witness to the ferret (or other animals or even children) being physically harmed in the household?  (Broken leg, burns, open wounds, etc.)

What to do WHEN you suspect animal cruelty, abuse or neglect:  

Neglect usually is a result of ignorance on the owner’s part.  In some cases, the owner may be “new” to ferret ownership, and the ferret’s needs have not been properly explained or understood by the animal’s caretaker.  Providing education and other forms of support to the owner may turn a bad situation around.  However, one should check back to see if this approach has been effective.
    
One of the saddest situations is when a ferret is found (often by the landlord) abandoned and left to die by its owners.  Abandonment constitutes neglect and abuse:  these folks should be reported.    
   
Do not attempt to approach the owner.  Report suspected abuse or neglect to the law enforcement,   animal control or protection agencies local to the owner or where the ferret was found.  Alternatively, a report can be made to a local humane organization, including a ferret shelter-rescue. 


Report unsanitary conditions (either human or animal) to your local health department.  If the household has many animals, one might also explore local zoning laws.  However, one must still take care of an animal that is suffering and requires medical intervention. 
​

Demand that the situation be investigated.   In the case when any of the above agencies are unwilling to proceed with an investigation, or in the face of direct evidence, contact your local or state attorney’s office to intervene.  

What is needed to proceed with an animal cruelty case?

The simple answer is:  Evidence.    

• Document or request documentation of complaints about the individual.
• Start a log:  dates, times, places:  How were you made aware of the situation?  Who is/was involved in the identification of potential abuse?  Get their names, roles, contact information, etc.
• Don’t go alone:   bring at least one additional adult who can back up what you see- and do.  
• Try and obtain evidence --- legally.  Do not trespass on the owner’s property.  When possible, record the situation in photographs, ensuring that your camera is set to “date/time” stamp the photos; take videos, with voice over, if possible.

who is responsible for prosecuting animal cruelty?

Depending on the locatation where the current owner lives or where the animal was found, it is the city, county, district attorney who is responsible for prosecuting cases of animal cruelty, abuse or neglect.
​

Neglect is generally an “act of omission rather than commission”: something was NOT done to the animal rather than something that was done. [HSUS]   In most cases of “neglect,” authorities typically require the owner to correct the situation.

what can ferret shelters or reScues do?

• Know your local laws, ordinances, not only for animal protection, but also zoning, health, and enforcement.
• Start and maintain a Contacts List:  names/contact information for local law enforcement, environmental health, animal control, zoning, etc. 
• Maintain current veterinary contacts:  you may need them on an emergency basis!  [Most Shelters and Rescues already have a “veterinary list.”]
• Upon receiving the ferret, have the ferret examined by a ferret-knowledgeable veterinarian not only to determine the health status of the ferret and to administer any necessary care, but also as an expert who could potentially confirm whether or not the animal has undergone abuse or neglect. 
• Know who your district or state attorney(s) are:  you may need to contact them, to move an investigation forward.  

when a juvenile (<18 years old) is involved......

Harmful behavior towards an animal, particularly if the offender is a child or teen, warrants immediate attention.   Such cases should be promptly reported to the appropriate authorities.  This is because an act of abuse or cruelty towards an animal is a “red flag” that the child offender may him- or herself be experiencing abuse or violence.
​ 
Adolescent abuse to animals is a key indicator now recognized by mental health and law enforcement professionals that the person may progress to aggressive behaviors towards humans.  This was the case for serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer, and Albert DeSalvo (“the Boston Strangler”), and for the Columbine shooters:  each had a history of abuse to animals, before they killed humans.

most importantly:   don't give up!

Pursue documented cases of animal cruelty, abuse and neglect: 

• Follow up to determine the outcomes of the cases in your local area, to ensure that current laws and ordinances are being properly enforced.
• If the laws in your area are “weak” or don’t exist, work with local government and with humane societies, the medical and veterinary communities, rescue and shelter groups us to strengthen the impact of anticruelty laws and their enforcement.

external links

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)
Investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty and neglect

Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS)

---

US Animal Protection Laws  
2019 "Best and Worst" Animal Protection laws by State/Territory