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February 2001
What Should I do if I see an Animal Being Abused?

From the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

 

 

The ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement Department (HLE) has powers to investigate cruelty in the state of New York. If you have a cruelty complaint outside New York state, visit www.aspca.org to find a humane society or shelter in your area.

Many people call the HLE to report what they think is a violation of laws against animal cruelty. Unfortunately, what may seem to be inhumane treatment may not necessarily be against the law. Although there are many different laws that apply to animals in New York State, our agents are limited to enforcing only the laws that are on the books. Basically, animal cruelty in New York State is considered the intentional effort to hurt or kill a companion animal or the failure to provide food, water, shelter or necessary veterinary care. We also must have proof or a witness who will testify in court that the act of animal cruelty took place.

If the abuse and/or neglect is occurring in New York State, contact the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement Division (see Sidebar) which will refer you to the local animal cruelty enforcement agency, or if the abuse is taking place in New York City, HLE will investigate the complaint.

If the abuse and/or neglect is taking place in a state besides New York, we urge you to contact the following organizations: your local society for the prevention of cruelty to animals and/or humane society (which may have the power to enforce animal cruelty laws in your area); local law enforcement officials; the city/county Health Department or Board (because abuse of animals often involves unsafe or unsanitary conditions for humans), and/or; if none of these are helpful, contact local media organizations.


What to do if you see an Injured Animal in NYC


The excerpt below is from the Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC) which is the NYC animal shelter or “pound.” Keep in mind that if an animal is taken to the CACC there is a good chance he or she will be killed, especially if there are injuries and is thus deemed “not adoptable.” However, as is stated by the CACC below, you can take responsibility for the animal and try to adopt that animal after he or she is taken to the CACC and assessed. —J.F.

Please, if you ever see an injured animal in need of assistance CALL US ! We are The Center for Animal Care & Control. Please understand that we have limited resources to work with, but our number one priority are injured or dangerous animals.

The number for the Rescue Department is 718-649-8600. They are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm and, in most injured animal emergencies during these hours, can respond within the hour.

On weekends or after 8pm you can call the Manhattan (212-722-3620) or Brooklyn (718-272-7200) shelters. Press 0 for an operator and explain the nature of the emergency. We do have a driver on call during these times for emergency situations only, and will try and be of assistance. Remember, as in any emergency you can always call 911 and they are able to bring the animals into our shelters. Both shelters are now open 24 hours, seven days a week.

We are actively looking to recruit more Rescue Drivers so we may begin rescue coverage seven days a week. We are not an animal hospital, but we do have vets and vet tech that can access [sic.] the extent of injuries and the options.

If you are interested in taking on the responsibility for the animal, always have your name and telephone number noted on the paperwork and be sure to get the animals’ “A number,” the number that will be used throughout the animals’ stay with us and allows for easy reference throughout any of our shelters. Hopefully this information will prove to be helpful in the future. —Jody Jones, Center for Animal Care and Control


 


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