Are you required to report animal abuse?
Mandated reporters of animal abuse can range from veterinarians to social workers.
- Many states have some sort of animal abuse reporting requirements.
- Veterinarians are often required to report, as they are often the only witnesses to animal cruelty.
- Some states are beginning to implement cross-reporting laws, recognizing the link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence, such as child abuse or elder abuse.
Animal Abuse Reporting Requirements
All 50 states now either permit or require veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty. Out of those,19 states have mandatory laws requiring veterinarians to report abuse. Many others allow it (permissive reporting) and often provide legal immunity for good-faith reporting.
For example, Minnesota law explicitly requires licensed veterinarians to report known or suspected animal cruelty to law enforcement or humane agents, and protects them with civil and criminal immunity if they report in good faith.
Cross-Reporting Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence
Some states recognize the link between animal cruelty and human abuse, prompting cross-reporting laws.
Massachusetts, for instance, has expanded cross-reporting so that social services workers may report suspected animal cruelty during investigations.
In Tennessee, employees of child or adult protective services are required to report suspected animal abuse that they observe during their professional duties.
Research demonstrates a clear connection between animal abuse and violence:
- 70% of people charged with cruelty to animals were known by police for other violent behavior, including homicide.
- 61.5% of animal abuse offenders had also committed an assault.
- Up to 89% of domestic violence survivors said their partners harmed, killed, or threatened their pets.
- Animal abuse was reported in 88% of families investigated for physical child abuse.
Numerous studies show that animal cruelty and family violence, including child maltreatment and intimate partner violence, frequently co-occur. Pets are sometimes harmed or threatened to control victims, including children.
In families with confirmed child abuse, animal abuse was present in a large majority of pet-owning homes. Some studies suggest co-occurrence as high as 60 to 88%. Among women seeking shelter from partner violence, most who had pets reported that the partner had threatened or harmed the animals. Children often witnessed the abuse.
If you are a mandated reporter, it’s important to know that one form of abuse in the home could indicate others.
“Recognizing and reporting signs of animal cruelty is critical to the health and safety of animals, as well as the communities in which they live. The welfare of people and their pets is inextricably linked, so reporting animal abuse may be the first step to intervening in a violent household and interrupting a cycle of violence,” says Claire Coughlin from the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).
Recognizing Signs of Animal Abuse or Neglect
AWI provides the following list of signs of animal abuse or neglect. For mandated reporters, it’s important to be able to recognize the following:
Animal’s Physical Conditions
- Open wounds or signs of multiple wounds that have healed
- Fur infested with fleas, ticks, or other parasites
- Emaciation or extreme weight loss
- Ongoing illness or injury that appears to be untreated
- Physical weakness, limping, or the inability to stand or walk in a normal manner
- Heavy discharge coming from the animal’s nose or eyes
- Signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness
- Skin conditions that appear untreated, causing loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps, rashes, or matting
- Collar is so tight that it is causing an indentation or is embedded in the animal’s neck
Animal’s Environment
- Tied up for long periods of time without adequate food, water, or shelter
- Kept outside during severe weather conditions
- Always chained or caged
- Kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass, or other harmful materials
Human Interactions with an Animal
- History of multiple pets in a short period of time
- Pet(s) appear fearful of one or more household members
- Family members observed kicking, striking, shoving, or otherwise harming the animal
How to Report Animal Cruelty
If you have a concern about an animal’s well-being, you can report it to law enforcement, animal control, or your local animal cruelty hotline. If you are a mandated reporter with cross-reporting requirements, you may also need to report suspected abuse to local welfare agencies, as well.
- Document what you see. You don’t have to investigate or prove abuse is happening. However, documenting your observations and facts can help you during the reporting process.
- Identify the correct agency for reporting or cross-reporting. Reports may need to be made to multiple agencies, including animal control, law enforcement, and child welfare. If you believe an animal or human is in immediate danger, call 911.
- File a report promptly. Don’t delay. Some reports must be made within 24 hours or as soon as possible.
- Document the report. Ask authorities if/ when you can expect a response and follow up as needed.
How to Stay Informed
To learn more about your requirements as a mandated reporter, visit our state-by-state database at mandatedreporter.com.
To learn more about key animal welfare legislation and policies, sign up for action alerts at the Animal Welfare Institute.
FAQs About Reporting Animal Abuse
Who is required to report animal abuse?
Veterinarians are the most common mandated reporters of animal cruelty, since they are often the first or only professionals to witness it. In some states, social workers, child and adult protective services employees, animal control officers, and law enforcement are also required to report suspected abuse.
Do all states require veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse?
All 50 states either require or permit veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty. Nineteen states have mandatory reporting laws, while the rest allow it and provide immunity for good-faith reporting.
What is cross-reporting of animal abuse and human abuse?
Cross-reporting laws recognize the link between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence, such as child abuse or intimate partner violence. In these states, professionals like social services workers or protective services staff may be required to report both animal abuse and human abuse if they encounter signs during their work.
What is the link between animal abuse and family violence?
Research shows a strong connection between animal abuse and other forms of violence, including child maltreatment, elder abuse, intimate partner violence, and violent crimes such as assault.
What are the warning signs of animal abuse or neglect?
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) highlights warning signs in three areas:
- Animal’s physical condition: untreated wounds or illnesses, multiple injuries in various stages of healing, extreme weight loss, limping, skin conditions, or embedded collars.
- Animal’s environment: being tied or caged without food, water, or shelter, and unsanitary or unsafe living conditions.
- Human interactions: pets fearful of particular household members, a history of multiple pets in a short period of time, or directly observed abuse.
How do I report suspected animal abuse?
Reports can be made to:
- Local law enforcement
- Animal control agencies
- Animal cruelty hotlines
- In states with cross-reporting, you may also need to contact child or adult protective services
