How are complaints investigated?

An officer will look into the complaint to see if animal cruelty statutes have been violated. Some agencies have the power to obtain and serve warrants; other agencies work closely with local police who execute the search warrant on their behalf.

If a violation has occurred, the officer may speak with the owner and issue a citation and give the owner a chance to correct the violation. This is more likely in cases of animal neglect.

In other cases, animal neglect or abuse may be extreme and require the animals to be removed by a humane agency to protect them. The agency will present the case to the prosecutor's office for further evaluation and possible prosecution.

What role does The HSUS play in local animal abuse and neglect cases?

The Humane Society of the United States works with the public on individual cases of animal cruelty by providing rewards to citizens who provide information on animal cruelty and animal fighting leading to a conviction.

The HSUS also provides assistance and resources to animal shelters, animal control professionals, investigators and prosecutors around the country on issues involving illegal animal cruelty and animal fighting. We provide educational materials, training opportunities, recommended operations guidelines and other expertise.

We also lobby at state and national levels to strengthen laws protecting animals, increasing the likelihood that animal cruelty will be taken seriously by the legal system. For more information on animal abuse and what you can do to strengthen animal cruelty laws in your state, please visit The HSUS' Animal Cruelty Campaign.