| Witnessing animal neglect or abuse can be a | | | | |
| heart wrenching experience. For those who | | | | If a person lives in a rural area that does |
| love animals it is difficult to understand | | | | not actually have a humane shelter that they |
| why it happens. However, no matter if one | | | | can contact, then they should still report |
| understands it or not, they have a | | | | the abuse. They can do this by contacting |
| responsibility to stop or report the abuse if | | | | their local police department. |
| they observe it happening. The key is | | | | |
| education on the prevention of cruelty to | | | | They also have the jurisdiction to make sure |
| animals and how to deal with this horrid | | | | that the animal laws against cruelty are |
| experience, not only for the animals and | | | | enforced. Another place to check if one does |
| their safety, but to make sure that the | | | | not feel comfortable contacting the police is |
| person committing the crime is punished. | | | | a website that can help locate a local animal |
| | | | care organization. Two of these sites are |
| The first place that should be contacted when | | | | "Pet Finder" and "Pets 911". |
| one has witnessed animal neglect is the local | | | | |
| humane shelter. They have the power to | | | | The world of animal neglect is a sad thing. |
| enforce the animal cruelty laws that exist in | | | | So many times people overlook animal abuse or |
| almost all states and subsequently hold the | | | | cruelty because they are not sure what to do. |
| abuser responsible for their actions. | | | | With just a phone call one can help an animal |
| | | | who is in need. |
| They can be fined and even put in jail | | | | |
| depending on how strict the laws are in the | | | | Even farm animals horses and other livestock |
| state where the abuse took place. The only | | | | are covered by the animal laws that exist in |
| way that the humane shelter will know about | | | | most places. One only has to take the |
| the neglect in the community is through the | | | | initiative to keep the animals safe. They are |
| eyes and ears of the community members. | | | | counting on us. |