Instructions
Pay attention to the animals in your neighborhood. Watch for dogs that are covered with patches of missing fur or a cat that is left alone for days without food or water.
Record any instances of abuse you have noticed. Write down the dates and times of anything you have witnessed. The more information you offer to local authorities the more likely charges can be brought against the abuser, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Contact the correct authorities about the matter. This could include local law enforcement or an animal shelter in the area. Tell them all the information you have obtained about the potential abuse.
Encourage other people in your neighborhood to report abuse they have noticed. Set up a local neighborhood watch program or provide the telephone numbers for the police and local shelters in your area.
Teach children how to properly treat animals. Inform them about the different types of animal cruelty and give them examples they will understand. For instance, a child will grasp that it is not right to leave an animal in the cold during winter or it is wrong to hit an animal as a form of punishment. Also inform the children not to be afraid to report animal abuse they notice in their neighborhood.
Support local anti-abuse organizations in your town or state. This comes in the form of volunteering at a local animal shelter or giving money to a charity. Get to know your own state's laws concerning animal abuse and support any anti-abuse legislation.
How to Stop Pet Abuse
The signs of animal abuse go beyond physical maltreatment. They also include the presence of untreated flea and tick infestations, animals that are left without food or water for several days or animals that are fearful or aggressive when faced with their owners, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. There are several ways that any concerned citizen can prevent animal cruelty in his neighborhood and state.