I know this is a hard topic to address, but as people who care about animals we have to face the reality that some pets are abused or neglected. It's not pleasant to witness abuse, but just imagine how much harder it would be to be a helpless kitten suffering abuse at the hands of an indifferent caretaker. Recently, we were involved in reporting a case of neglect that we witnessed here in Seattle. I'm glad to report that the authorities responded appropriately and investigated the matter. We can now hope that the pets involved in this sad situation will have better homes with loving families.
It's human nature, I think, not to want to get involved. But it really is important for people who care about animal welfare to take a stand and help rescue animals who are suffering from human cruelty or indifference. Cruelty to animals is a crime in every state of the union and every municipality. Most cities have dedicated animal welfare personnel charged with investigating reports of animal cruelty or neglect. In many cases, these officers have regular police powers and have the ability to thoroughly investigate any report. There's no need to fear reprisals when making a report either, as police will not normally disclose the identity of anyone making a report (court proceedings, should the situation result in criminal charges, may be a different matter, but simply making a report usually does not require authorities to reveal your identity).
The important thing to remember is that in cases of abuse, an animal's life is often at stake. You don't have to make a determination that abuse is actually occurring; that's the job of the investigators and the courts. If you think abuse or neglect might be occurring, then you have a duty to make a report.
Don't waste time! Make a report immediately if you witness animal abuse or neglect.
