As a service to our community I want to remind people that you can report animal abuse even if you do not own a pet. Animals who are abused do not have a voice so they are dependent on humans to speak in their behalf. Please be brave and help change our culture. If you see any of the following things please call the Hawaii Humane Society at 808-356-2250, or call 911.
1. Visible wounds. Abused animals often have visible signs of illness or injury that are not usually being treated.
2. Unhealthy body. Some animals that are not being properly cared for will be emaciated, where their bones are showing, or may be extremely thin.
3. Inadequate grooming. More than just not being brushed, these animals have not been taken care of and are dirty, have overgrown nails, and may have fur that has been extremely matted.
4. Weakness. A sign that animal has been abused may be that they are not able to move around normally or may be limping.
5. Isolated outside. Pets that are left outdoors for a long time are of concern. They may be in unsanitary conditions and not have access to food and water.
6. Unsafe conditions. If a pet is kept in an area that is unsafe and could lead to injury, such as if the area has a lot of broken glass or garbage.
7. Incorrectly crated. While many people crate their pet, it may be abusive if they are using a crate that is too small and does not allow the animal to engage in normal movements, such as standing up.
8. To Report, Make the Call: Those who believe animal abuse may be taking place should contact their local animal shelter or animal control department. Those who are unable to locate the local shelter or humane society, contact the local police at a non-emergency number and get a referral.
9. Be detailed. If there is animal abuse taking place try to get as many details as possible, so that they can be handed over to the authorities. They will need information such as what was happening, times and dates, and the location.
10. Follow-Up: The calls made to report animal abuse are kept anonymous. But they can still be followed up on if they do not hear back from authorities about it in a reasonable time frame. The person turning in the abuse can also choose to testify if they would like to.
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