CRUELTY

Reporting Animal Abuse & Neglect

You've seen it. A dog is left, tied to a tree in the middle of summer with no shade or water for hours on end--maybe even days. Or a neighbor cat shows the obvious signs of abuse from children playing with a lighter. Because you care, you know you have to do something. But what?

What's illegal?
In general, the courts have upheld the following ten principles in defining cruelty to animals. However, each case must be tried on its own merit

1. Most courts have upheld that cruelty to animals takes place when a person intentionally, knowingly, and without justifiable cause commits acts which inflict pain and suffering upon an animal.

2. Acts which injure and inflict pain and suffering upon animals, but are unintentional or accidental, or are the result of mere negligence, generally do not constitute cruelty.

3. A plea of ignorance by the accused, that the act could result in the infliction of pain and suffering, is not generally a valid defense to a charge of cruelty.

4.  It is ordinarily an offense to unnecessarily abuse an animal by beating, wounding, injuring, maiming, burning or otherwise needlessly inflicting pain or suffering upon an animal; however, a beating or other temporary pain that is inflicted for the purpose of training or discipline is usually not considered cruel by the courts.

5. The manner in which an animal is transported or carried may constitute cruelty.

6.   It is usually a reasonable defense to a charge of cruelly, needlessly or unnecessarily injuring or killing an animal that the act was committed in self-defense of a person or property.

7. Allegedly cruel treatment that is done as an act of mercy for the purpose of preventing unnecessary pain or suffering to continue, is a valid defense to a charge of cruelty.

8. A surgical operation which is performed in good faith, with the proper degree of care and skill and under the honest belief that it will benefit the animal, is ordinarily not considered to be cruel, even though it causes an animal pain.

9.  Omissions and neglects which cause or permit unnecessary or unjustifiable pain and suffering on the part of animals are ordinarily punishable as cruelty.

10. A cruel act, whether active or passive, ordinarily must be shown to have created, caused or allowed to exist some form of identifiable pain or suffering upon an animal, and acts which, by their nature, should or could inflict pain or suffering upon an animal, but do not actually do so, are not ordinarily punishable as cruelty to animals.

Who do I call?
To report a case of suspected animal cruelty, call the Animal Control agency in the county where the incident occurred.

Inside the city of Adrian call Officer Barb Francouer at 517-265-7151   

Outside the City of Adrian but inside Lenawee County call Officer Dick Ward at 517-263-0524

Inside of the city of Tecumseh call the Tecumseh Police Dept. at 517-424-7494

Do I have to leave my name?
One reason why so much abuse and neglect continue in our community is because people are reluctant to get involved. Without a witness, the abused or neglected animal (or child) will continue to suffer. When reporting animal cruelty, it is not a legal requirement to give your name and address; however, this does strengthen the case against the suspected abuser.