Recognizing cruelty is simple, right? Not quite. Obvious behaviours such as aggression, timidity and fear don’t always tell the whole story. Animals may appear to be timid or frightened for many reasons other than abuse. It’s almost impossible to make conclusions based on a pet’s behaviour alone. The best way to tell whether an animal is being or has been abused is to examine him and his surrounding environment.
Signs that may alert you: Physical Signs
- Collar so tight that it’s causing a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck
- Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated
- Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
- Extreme thinness or emaciation – bones may be visible
- Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
- Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes
- Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
- Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
- Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
- An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
- Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness
Environmental Signs
- Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food and water that is unsanitary
- Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter
- Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
- Animals housed in kennels or cages that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with other animals
Reporting suspected animal cruelty ensures that animals in jeopardy receive prompt and often lifesaving care.
If you see signs of animal abuse, don’t keep it to yourself. Please report it to the Ottawa Humane Society’s Cruelty Division. By making a complaint to the police or humane society, shelter in your area – you can do so anonymously – you help animals in need that are rescued and that perpetrators of animal cruelty are brought to justice.
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Liz Bradley is a dog lover who lives in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband,