Investigating Animal Cruelty 13 The animals’ conditions/ circumstances Let’s assume that you have received a complaint about an animal or that you have personally observed a situation in which an animal is being neglected or abused. Use the following examples for guidance. Non-exigent circumstances Arriving at the scene Distinguishing between severe neglect and exigent circumstances can be difficult. Determining the degree of neglect is often a judgment call. 1. Examples of serious neglect (some of these may qualify as exigent circumstances) The animal: • Is very thin and unable to rise or stand • Constantly scratches itself or rubs against walls (possibly from mange or lice) • Has numerous sores on its body • Limps • Lives in filthy, squalid conditions • Is exposed to the hot sun (a pig without shelter in the hot sun could die) 2. Examples of less serious neglect (the animal is being neglected but isn’t yet in a state of severe neglect) • The animal doesn’t have proper shelter (for example, a dog with only the tailgate of a truck for shelter). This can become an exigent circumstance during extreme temperatures. • The water bowl is overturned or dry and/or there’s no fresh water available. This can become an exigent circumstance during extreme heat. • The animal’s appearance indicates a general lack of proper care. NOTE: If an owner is not at home and your observations indicate that an animal is being neglected, consider leaving a note for the person to call you when he returns. If you don’t receive a call, return later when you expect the person to be present and investigate the complaint. Exigent circumstances Exigent circumstances exist when an animal: • Is severely emaciated or near death. • Has a collar embedded in its neck. • Has numerous sores or obvious inflicted injuries, such as stab wounds, gunshot wounds, burns, etc. • Appears to suffering from heat exhaustion. • Is whimpering and vomiting or appears too undernourished and too weak to stand. • Is crying out in pain or distress from behind a locked door. • Is inside a building that’s threatened by fire or flooding. • Law enforcement officers have successfully used exigent circumstances to remove an animal from such circumstances/conditions (see the Key concepts discussion in the Be prepared section). Confronting the owner Attempt to speak with the owner and ask to examine the animal. Try to find out how the situation started. Your discussion will likely follow one of the scenarios outlined below. 1. The owner is cooperative and might want to surrender the animal. • Discuss the welfare of the animal with the owner and ask how the situation started. • If the owner wants to surrender the animal for the sake of its well-being, obtain a written release (i.e. surrender form) granting permission to the local animal control or humane agency to take over the animal’s care and control. • Enlist the aid of the local animal control or humane agency and a veterinarian to have the animal removed from the property. How to use this field guide
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