When Neighbors Are Cruel or Neglectful To Their Pets

April 23rd, 2010 |

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.