Washington State Rescues and Bulletin Board.

If you suspect that an animal has been abused, by someone you know or by a stranger, there are things you can do. The most important act you can take is to report the cruelty to your local law enforcement. In some cities, this may be animal control or a department of Humane Law Enforcement, while in other areas the police or sheriff’s department may be the agency in charge of these sorts of crimes. 

If you are unsure of who to contact, try your local yellow pages, or you can use the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement Lookup page to locate the agency in your area. You can also check the front section of your telephone yellow pages and search for Animal Control. 

Some areas (especially more rural parts of the country) may not have a designated Animal Control Department, in which case there may be a an branch of a local humane society that has been assigned the power to investigate cruelty cases.  If your city does not have an animal control or humane law enforcement department, cruelty cases may fall under the jurisdiction of the sheriff's department or local police.

If you witness animal cruelty in progress and do not know the number to the appropriate agency, CALL 911.  Animal cruelty is a CRIME, and the police dispatcher will be able to determine which department should respond.

Repeat offenses of animal cruelty crimes are a rule, not an exception - and there are many times when an investigation into an animal cruelty crime uncovers human-related crimes as well. When officers go to the home to investigate an animal cruelty issues, they often find evidence of domestic abuse, child neglect, drugs and other dangerous situations. Reporting animal cruelty could save a human life.

When a violent crime is committed against anyone you love, there is always a flood of emotions: anger, outrage, hurt, worry, helplessness... Your pets are no exception, and when someone deliberately causes them harm, the reaction isn't much different than if they had attacked a human family member. The fact is, there are some things you can do. Animal abuse is a crime, and depending on where you live, it can be a pretty serious one.

While you should NOT try to resolve the animal cruelty complaint yourself, there are things you can to help the case.  In most animal cruelty cases, there is no "smoking gun" - cases are won based on a preponderance of evidence, so keeping tracik of the little details is very important.

Take Photos
Take photos when possible - and make sure the timestamp feature of your camera is enabled if it has one.  If you're having difficulty getting law enforcement to respond to a cruelty complaint, sometimes clear photos documenting the abuse can make all the difference.

Only attempt to take photos if you can SAFELY obtain them without trespassing.  Illegal trespassing on private property will put your safety at risk, and the photos obtained usually cannot be used as evidence, since the act of obtaining the photos was against the law.

Document Phone Calls, Complaints, Etc.
Keep a written log of the dates and times you have called authorities asking them to investigate.  If you have spoken with the suspected abuser, keep notes on the time, dates, location and subject matter discussed.  If the suspect has threatened you, your family or your pets, make sure to include the dates and times in your documentation.

If you suspect dog or cockfighting and live near the location, keep track of times and dates when you see a large number of people entering the building or a larger-than-usual number of cars parked out front, especially on nights and weekends.

If Your Pet Does Not Survive
If your pet doesn't survive the abuse, make sure to request that your vet perform a necropsy.  Just like in human murder cases where an autopsy is performed, a necropsy can provide invaluable information about the cause of death and extent of injury - information that can be pivotal in some investigations.