AnimalCareLaws.org
It’s the Law!
Animals deserve humane treatment –
and laws and regulations require it.
It’s the Law!
Animals deserve humane treatment –
And laws and regulations require it.
Have you seen an animal that you believe is being neglected or mistreated? Do you want to get something done about it?
Your first step should be to find out what animal care laws and regulations apply to your area. That’s where our Web site can help. We make it easy to gain instant access to find up-to-date laws that apply to your community, including:
Federal – Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act and other laws
State – Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska
Municipal – city ordinances within each of the five Midwestern states
Go to our Laws page and then your state. Once you find a law that applies to the situation you have witnessed, call the proper authorities and demand that they take action to help the animals. For more tips, click on How to Report Cruelty or Inhumane Conditions from our information titles listed below.
Our Mission
We believe that when an animal is in human hands, it is entitled to humane care. Therefore, the mission of Citizens for Animal Protection (animalcarelaws.org) is to help ensure that these animals receive good care and live in a healthy environment.
Outdated ordinances and training needed for the protection of animals.
Too many communities have outdated ordinances that need to be replaced with ones in keeping with current attitudes and standards. At every level of government, the laws and regulations are too broad and too subjective — and are therefore usually interpreted for the owner and against the animal. Only when animals are dead or dying are they considered victims of cruelty.
In addition, most animal control officers have been trained primarily to protect people from animals, not the other way around. That’s why the emphasis is on rabies. We believe that human health and animal health are intertwined, so there should be more emphasis on necessary inoculations and treatments for the health and well-being of the animal.
Too many communities have outdated ordinances that need to be replaced with ones in keeping with current attitudes and standards. At every level of government, the laws and regulations are too broad and too subjective — and are therefore usually interpreted for the owner and against the animal. Only when animals are dead or dying are they considered victims of cruelty.
In addition, most animal control officers have been trained primarily to protect people from animals, not the other way around. That’s why the emphasis is on rabies. We believe that human health and animal health are intertwined, so there should be more emphasis on necessary inoculations and treatments for the health and well-being of the animal.
Citizens for Animal Protection offers these solutions:
- Creating an easy way through our website to access city, county, state and federal laws and regulations on animal care, abuse and neglect.
- Encouraging enactment and enforcement of animal care laws that have a clear definition section plus specific instructions and care requirements for humane care.
- Developing and providing training that focuses on enforcement of animal care laws.
The best place to start is with the closest, smallest government:
- City ordinances are enforced by animal control, health officials or another designated department (For example, in Kansas City, Mo., it’s the Neighborhood and Community Services Department). In most cases, it is better for animals when animal care responsibilities are in a separate department so they don’t have to compete with human needs.
- Unincorporated areas with home rule can enact their own laws. Otherwise, state statutes are relied upon and are enforced by the local sheriff.
How to Report Cruelty or Inhumane Conditions
Tips for successfully reporting and prosecuting cases include:
Tips for successfully reporting and prosecuting cases include:
- Keep a log to document problems with animal care or treatment.
- Take extensive photos of poor conditions and injuries or wounds on animals. Make sure they are dated.
- Be specific when writing a complaint.
- Encourage officers to write as many tickets as possible, in case some are thrown out.
- Be willing to serve as a witness.
- Act as a court watcher. Having a crowd present during a trial shows there is community interest and put pressure on officials to be conscientious.
P.S. We also urge you to read Chapter 14 of the Kansas City, Missouri, ordinance, which can serve as a model for improving the laws in your area.
