Adoption and Rescue Information > SPCA Interview > Part 4 - What to do if you suspect animal neglect or abuse
This is part four of my interview with Beth Brookhouser, Director of Community Outreach for the SPCA for Monterey County in California. In this segment, learn what do do if you suspect animal abuse or neglect, and how to report possible cases in your community.Question: What should people do if they suspect that an animal has been neglected or abused?
Beth's Answer: Report it! In a large geographic area like Monterey County, our officers lack the necessary resources to drive around looking for problems and are therefore complaint generated. We rely completely on reports from the public to alert us to animals being mistreated. In Monterey County, reports of animal neglect and abuse can always be anonymous.
Also, keep in mind that Humane Officers can only help animals as far as the laws in your area will allow. There is no law that requires that people love their animals. That’s probably the hardest thing for people to understand.
At The SPCA for Monterey County we receive calls all the time from people reporting neglect because a dog is kept outdoors or a horse is all alone and never ridden. Our officers will always try to make life better for these animals by educating their owners about the emotional needs of their animals, but owners providing this level of care are not in violation of the law. We also offer to take the animal off their hands and relieve the owner of the burden of caring for an animal.
To make real change, work with your local humane society or legislators to put laws on the books to better help animals in your area.
For example, one recent law in California that has made a difference is our anti-tethering law which prohibits the tethering (or chaining) of dogs for more than 3 hours in any 24 hours period. This law has allowed our officers to get dogs off of chains and into significantly greater humane confinement.
Question: Your site is an excellent resource and makes reporting easy. What should people do who do not have access to this in their area? Should people call the police? 911?
Beth's Answer: Thanks! We try hard to make it easy for people to report neglect or cruelty. If you see neglect or abuse, report it to your local animal control agency or Humane Society. It would be a good idea to do some research ahead of time and make sure the phone numbers are close at hand. Some animal agencies have an after-hours answering service for emergencies. Many local phone books have a listing of important numbers, including contacts for animal-related issues. If these are not options in your area, call your local law enforcement agency for assistance.
Photo: Border Collie with Humane Officer Judy. Photo © SPCA of Monterey County.
You can find Beth on Twitter here @bbrookhouser and here @animalrescuers.
Thank you, Beth for doing this interview. Part five of this interview discusses what you should do if you are hesitant to report animal abuse or neglect.
Adoption and Rescue Information > SPCA Interview > Part 4 - What to do if you suspect animal neglect or abuse
