SIGNS OF ANIMAL ABUSE
- collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound
- open wounds
- untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
- extreme thinness or emaciation
- fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
- inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting, overgrown nails or dirty coat
- weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
- heavy discharge from eyes or nose
- a person striking or otherwise physically harming an animal
- animal abandoned in a residence, dumped out of vehicle or turned loose
- animals tied up outside for long periods of time without sufficient amounts of nutritious food or clean water
- animals being overworked
- animals kept outside in inclement weather without adequate shelter
- animals confined in an automobile for prolonged periods of time during extremely hot or cold weather
- animals kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
- animals kept in kennels or cages that are too small to allow them to stand up or turn around
ANIMAL HOARDING
Animal hoarding is another type of cruelty and is a complex and intricate public health and community issue. Its effects are far-reaching and encompass mental health, animal welfare and public safety concerns. A companion animal hoarder is someone who:
- Possesses a large number of companion animals
- Fails to or is unable to provide what is required by law
- Keeps the companion animals in a severely overcrowded environment; and
- Displays an inability to recognize or understand the nature of or has reckless disregard for the conditions under which the companion animals are living and the deleterious impact they have on the companion animals’ and owner’s health and well-being.
DOG FIGHTING
Look for:
- Multiple intact dogs with scars and or wounds wearing heavy metal chain collars and attached to similar heavy chains.
Shelter:
- In rural areas dogs are kept in basements or abandoned buildings.
- In suburban areas dogs are kept in basements and backyards.
- Dogs living outdoors in minimal shelter with large chemical type barrels used as dog houses. Five-gallon buckets used for food/water.
Dog fighting paraphernalia:
- tread mills; spring poles, break sticks, drugs (steroids), vitamins, veterinary supplies and dog fighting material/flyers
- Typically, the actual dog fights don’t occur where the dogs are bred, kept and conditioned and trained to fight. The dog fighting arena is typically in a warehouse, barn or other large structure in a remote location large enough to hold an audience attending the fights as well as the actual fighting pit.