Posts Tagged ‘prevent animal cruelty’

I read the story below today and it got me thinking. This case of absolute cruelty and neglect took place right here in our backyard in Gwinnett County; Suwanee to be exact.  I believe it’s our responsibility to not even think twice before reporting neglect and cruelty to animals, but not everyone feels the same. Some people would rather not think about the dog chained to a tree next door, not even knowing whether or not the dog has food or water- the basic needs of all living creatures. I suppose this is because they don’t want to cause rifts with their neighbors.

There are many places that a person in this situation can contact for help. At the end of the story, which I found on CBS Atlanta, I’ll list a few places that can help if you know an animal in need of rescue from their humans.

Gwinnett County Man Arrested On Animal Cruelty Charges

Two Dogs Were Found Nearly Starved To Death

By Jennifer Mayerle, CBS Atlanta Reporter

SUWANEE, Ga. — Police are investigating a severe case of animal abuse in Gwinnett County. Two dogs were found so skinny they were near death. Police have arrested their owner, Jimmy Mixon, on charges of animal cruelty.The dogs were found in the backyard of a home on Cherokee Trail in Suwanee. Billy Hooper was working in a yard next door. The dogs were in the backyard. He had seen the dogs before, but not like this.“I knew the dog was in trouble ’cause it was laying on the ground. It didn’t respond, when I talked to it, it just laid there and it was jerking,” said Hooper.There was a Shepherd-mix named Beau, and a Boxer named Titan.“They were real skinny, the bones were showing real bad in the stomach area,” said Hooper.Hooper called police. Mixon didn’t answer when reporter Jennifer Mayerle showed up to ask the tough questions about his dogs. He did offer an excuse, according to police reports, “He and his wife just had a baby and it had been difficult. He was sorry but he was doing the best he could.”Animal Control Officer Joey Brooks says there’s no excuse. The dogs didn’t get that way overnight and Mixon had to know the dogs were suffering.“Both of them were severely emaciated, when we walk up and find a dog laying there almost unconscious, then that’s very severe,” said Brooks.Titan was so fragile, he didn’t make it. Beau is putting on weight, but he may have suffered brain damage because of the lack of food and water.“If you can’t take care of them, don’t get them,” said Hooper.Beau is being treated by a vet until he’s healthier, which may take a few weeks. He’ll then be put up for adoption at Gwinnett County Animal Control.

What You Can Do About Animal Cruelty

The Humane Society of the United States

If you witness or suspect animal abuse or neglect, please take the following steps:

Document: Take note of the date, time, exact location and the type of animal(s) involved. Video and photographic documentation (even a cell phone photo) can help bolster your case.

Contact Law Enforcement: Contact your local animal control agency or county sheriff’s office and present your complaint and evidence. You may wish to remain anonymous, but doing so may make successful prosecution of the case more difficult.

Follow Up: Be the squeaky wheel. If it seems like your complaint is not being taken seriously, keep calling back. Scheduling an in-person meeting with the law enforcement agency may have a greater impact. If all else fails, getting local media interested in the story is a sure-fire way of grabbing the attention of law enforcement.

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.

Who Do I Call to Report an Alleged Animal Cruelty Incident?

For Companion Animals (e.g., dogs, cats, exotic birds, pet rabbits, pot–bellied pigs)

• Report those persons holding an Animal Protection License issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (or those that should be licensed) to the Animal Protection Section at 1-800-282-5852, ext. 4914 or 404-656-4914, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Animal shelters, rescue groups and humane societies that house animals, pet breeders, pet dealers, pet shops, pet groomers, kennels, aviaries all require an Animal Protection License which must be prominently displayed at each licensed place of business.
• Report all other persons to the local law enforcement agency and the animal control office, if one exists in the area.  Report to the municipal or county police department or county sheriff’s department using the non-emergency number, unless the alleged perpetrator is actively involved in an act that threatens an animal’s life. If you suspect that other crimes (e.g., illegal drug activity or gambling) are involved, be sure to report this as a part of the call.

For Equine (e.g., horses, mules, donkeys, zebras)

• Report to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Equine Health Section at 1-800-282-5852, ext. 3713 or 404-656-3713, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or to the local law enforcement agency and the animal control office, if one exists in the area.

For Other Livestock (e.g., cattle, swine, goats, sheep, poultry, llamas)

• Report to your local municipal or county police department or county sheriff’s department.

For Captive Wildlife or Exotic Animals (e.g., whitetail deer, raptors, large cats)

• Report to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division at 770-761-3044,Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

For Circus or Zoo Animals (e.g., elephants, primates, circus dogs)

• Report to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care, Regional Office, Raleigh, N.C. at 919-716-5532, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

It’s amazing to me how many dog loving people that I meet who don’t know what a puppy mill is. If you buy a dog (instead of adoption or rescue), and the breeder doesn’t want to come to your home or at least ask you a million and one questions, you need to question THEM. In fact, you need to question them anyway. You need to ask to see where the puppies were born, to meet the mother and father (at least the mother), what health tests have been done on the mother and father, is the breeder active in any breed clubs, what temperament testing and socialization has been  done,  what food have the puppies been receiving, what inoculations have been given, ask for references from previous puppy buyers, can you have your own vet check the puppy out before committing, and well, you get the point.

At these puppy stores, the breeder isn’t even present. In fact, most of them will tell you they can’t even give you the address to the breeder’s home. This should be a HUGE red flag. The article below is something that I got from the Humane Society of the United States. I hope that you read this and think about adoption or at least a very reputable breeder before going to these puppy stores. We need to take a stand against this cruelty.

Puppy Mills

Can you imagine forcing your pet dog to live his or her entire life in a small wire cage with no human companionship, toys or comfort, and little hope of ever becoming part of a family? That is what life is like for a puppy mill breeding dog. Help us stop this cycle of cruelty that contributes to pet overpopulation and the suffering of countless dogs.

Puppy mills have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on legitimate-seeming websites. Puppy mills house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are often killed, abandoned or sold cheaply to another mill to try and get “one more litter” out of the dog. The annual result of all this breeding is millions of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.

Buying A Puppy

Questions to ask yourself, and how to prepare for a new pup

The first step on the road to pet ownership is to ask yourself some tough questions: Why do you want a puppy? Can you afford one? Are you prepared to take care of a dog every day for his entire life?

If you’ve decided you’re ready for a dog, follow The HSUS’ top five puppy buying tips and you’ll be far more likely to secure a healthy, well-socialized dog who doesn’t drain your emotions or your pocketbook. One, in other words, who doesn’t come from a puppy mill.

1. Consider adoption. Adopting a dog instead of buying one is one of the surest ways to strike a blow against puppy mills. To find the perfect match, you’ll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including “designer” or “hybrids” like Labradoodles and Puggles. Mixed-breed dogs also make wonderful pets. Read more about adopting a puppy through a shelter or breed rescue group »

2. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Responsible breeders provide a loving and healthy environment for their canine companions, one that they will be proud to show you. Never buy a puppy without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed with your own eyes. Read more on how to find a good dog breeder »

3. Don’t be fooled by common claims made by pet stores when pushing their puppies. Despite what they may tell you, pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies. Read more about the false claims commonly made by pet stores at the Pet Store Doublespeak page »

4. Don’t be swayed by a great website or ad. Just because a website says great things about their “home raised” or “family raised” puppies doesn’t make it true. Many puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads. For many years The HSUS has aided local authorities in the rescue of puppy mill dogs across the nation. In almost all cases the puppy mills sold puppies via the Internet using legitimate-looking ads or websites that made claims that couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

5. Avoid the temptation to “rescue” a puppy mill puppy by buying him. Even though your intentions may be good, don’t buy a puppy with the idea that you are “rescuing” him or her. Your “rescue” opens up space for another puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill industry. Pet stores won’t leave their cages empty and websites won’t leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they will continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying.

What You Can Do to Stop Puppy Mills

Help stop the cycle of cruelty

Check out this list of things you can do to help stop puppy mills:

Get an education

Whether you’re thinking about getting a dog, want to educate others about puppy mills or just want to learn more, check out FAQs about puppy mills and puppy buying tips.

Kids and teens: help stop puppy mills with A Cause for Paws.

Go online

Stop puppy mills by visiting our pages on Facebook and MySpace.

Help make your local pet store “puppy friendly”

The Puppy Friendly Pet Stores initiative asks dog lovers everywhere to work with their local pet stores to encourage them to develop and implement “puppy friendly” policies by refusing to sell puppies in their store and supporting homeless pet adoptions instead. Stores that already do not sell puppies can sign up to show that they are taking a stand against puppy mills and to “make official” their policy of not selling puppies. Learn more here »

Be an advocate

There are many things you can do to help dogs in puppy mills. “An Advocate’s Guide to Stopping Puppy Mills“ is a good place to start with many ideas that can propel you into action. ”A Guide to Using Local Ordinances to Combat Puppy Mills” is designed to help you work for the passage of local laws in your own community that will improve the lives of dogs in puppy mills.

Download “An Advocate’s Guide to Stopping Puppy Mills” »
Download “A Guide to Using Local Ordinances to Combat Puppy Mills” »

Or, you may order the more extensive kit that includes the guide as well as everything you’ll need to start spreading the word about puppy mills in your community, including printed materials, letter templates, tips for developing legislation and activity ideas. The kit is designed to help you discuss the puppy mill issue accurately and intelligently, whether speaking to friends and family or the local media: $3 each. Download the order form »

Lobby for better laws

Contact your federal and state legislators and let them know that you’re concerned about the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills and want the puppy mill issue to be a priority for Congress. Ask them to expand the reach of the Animal Welfare Act to include kennels that sell large numbers of puppies directly to the public.

Get “Stop Puppy Mills” stuff

Spread the word about puppy mills wherever you go with stickers, T-shirts, bookmarks, dog collars, and flyers, or download a banner or badge for your website or blog »

Speak up

Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is a great way to get the word out about puppy mills in your community. Write your own version—a short, polite letter is most effective—or download a Microsoft Word version of the template that you can alter.

Furnish your vet with flyers

Download and print these flyers and bring them to your veterinarian or groomer’s office: “Getting a Puppy?” and “How to Find a Good Dog Breeder” are designed to help potential pet owners avoid puppy mills.

Donate

Help The HSUS in our ongoing campaign to stop puppy mills. Please make a donation today.

I don`t hold animals superior or even equal to humans. The whole case for behaving decently to animals rests on the fact that we are the superior species. We are the species uniquely capable of imagination, rationality, and moral choice – and that is precisely why we are under an obligation to recognize and respect the rights of animals.
– Brigid Brophy

This is a fantastic article from www.all-creatures.org

EXCELLENT GUIDELINES to SPOT and PREVENT ANIMAL CRUELTY!

1. Be aware. Without phone calls from the concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn’t know about most instances of animal abuse. It all comes from the public, it all starts with YOU–that’s why it’s so important to keep your eyes and ears open. Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you’re more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly–a possible indicator of abuse.

2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Here are some signs and symptoms that we see in many of the cases we investigate:

· Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal’s death.

· Wounds on the body.

· Patches of missing hair.

· Extremely thin, starving animals.

· Limping.

· An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.

· Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.

· Dogs who have been hit by cars–or are showing any of the signs listed above–and have not been taken to a veterinarian.

· Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.

· Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.

 

3. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. We’re lucky here at the ASPCA in New York City, because we have Humane Law Enforcement officers who have the power to investigate and arrest perpetrators of animal cruelty in the state of New York. But every state and even every town is different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact your local animal control or another municipal agency. If you aren’t sure where to report cruelty, you can search our Humane Law Enforcement directory online or ask your local humane organization.

4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting the investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

5. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME–and the police MUST investigate these crimes.

6. Know your state’s animal cruelty laws. They vary from state to state, and even from city to city. You can visit the ASPCA’s website and get a wallet-sized printout with outlines of the animal welfare laws in all 50 states.

7. You can fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.  It’s frustrating when I have built a strong case against someone who has been arrested for cruelty to animals and the judge treats it like a simple violation. But with stronger laws, they’ll be more likely to receive tougher penalties. You’ll receive e-mails asking you to write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws–and you can send them directly from our website.

8. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care that they deserve. But it’s more than just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your animals spayed or neutered. And I always give my own pets lots of hugs when I get home!

9. Talk to your kids about how to treat animals with kindness and respect. I regularly see children in homes where animal abuse has been reported. If a parent isn’t treating the family’s pets right, I tell kids that their dog or cat would really appreciate fresh water every day, or if they spent some time playing with them. If the animal has been left outside without shelter, I’ll say, ‘You have a nice house, and if you get cold, you can put a coat on. But your dog can’t do that. Don’t you think he’d like a nice warm place to go, too?’ I know of families who watch Animal Precinct together, and I think it can help children realize that animals are living creatures who have the ability to feel pain, joy and sadness. You can see these emotions on the faces of the animals on the show.

10. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. Before I even knew that police for animals existed, I was volunteering at an animal shelter. It’s a great way to make a difference. Some of our ASPCA volunteers foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. You can find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area with our National Shelter Directory.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” -Mahatma Gandhi