Story by D. Faith Orlowski
From your back porch, you can tell that your neighbors’ dogs have not been fed or watered for days. Or on your way to work, you see the same dog on the same short chain out in the sun and weather sitting in a puddle on a concrete pad.
Or you notice things even worse. What should you do?
If you witness animal abuse or neglect, you should always report it. In the Tulsa metropolitan area and surrounds, there is always confusion as to who to call. My advice – call everyone until you are sure that the matter has been investigated.
Start with the Tulsa Animal Shelter (phone: 918-669-6299) or the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the “TSPCA”, phone: 918-428-7722). While the TSPCA’s cruelty investigator is part time due to funding restraints, do not let that dissuade you. The important thing is that the problem is reported and the animal is assisted.
There are actions you can take to assist the local authorities. First, gather the facts – the location of the animal (exact address) and a description of the situation (lack of food and water, injuries or sores, inhumanely confined or chained, generally neglected, etc.). The more specific you can be, the better the chance you have of persuading the authorities to investigate. If possible, document the incident with photographs or videos. Learn how to use your cell phones for this purpose. If the animal cruelty is not witnessed directly but is suspected, document all you can, with all specificity possible (note dates, times, circumstances, type and number of animals, persons involved, addresses, detailed description of the animals and person(s) involved) and report the cruelty to the authorities immediately.
The very slight possibility of having to testify should never outweigh the concern of acting and reporting the abuse. The main interest is to remove the animal from the situation. So few of these cases go to Court that your main concern should be for the animal’s welfare and providing the authorities enough information to substantiate your concern so they will investigate.
If the sheriff or police must be involved, the problem is finding someone who has the time to investigate. The main reason given for not prosecuting animal abuse and neglect cases is that it takes the officers the same amount of time to investigate and gather the evidence for an animal investigation as it does for crime investigations involving people. Unfortunately, animal cruelty matters – especially neglect issues – rarely get much attention from County Sheriffs or police officers for a variety of reasons. Secondly, pursuing animal abuse issues must be important to the local district attorney, because all the investigating you do will mean nothing if the DA is not interested in prosecuting these matters.
Now most animal lovers will face a “Catch 22” of sorts when it comes to animal neglect – especially as to the lack of food, water or blankets from the freezing conditions. If you provide the animal with assistance and then the officer goes to investigate, all he or she will see is an animal that has food, water or bedding. First, never put yourself in physical danger – from the animal or from the animal’s keeper. Second, if you fear for the animal’s life prior to an officer investigating the situation and you do not feel you will be in danger, then use the buddy system. Take a friend with a video camera shooting the scene as it is when you approach. Then continue videotaping while you place the food, water or bedding within reach of the animal. Continue videotaping showing the animal’s reaction. At least this way, the tape will show that you supplied the necessities. Law officials will never tell you to do this because you are more than likely trespassing, as well as placing yourself in harm’s way. I am not recommending this action. I just understand how many of us react to situations like this.
Please be aware that if the animal appears to be suffering from extreme starvation, you should not feed them, since their excessive overeating could cause harm or death. If horrendous starvation is observed, call authorities, local television stations, newspapers, veterinarians, city officials – anyone and everyone – so that enough excitement is created to remove the animals to emergency care.
“Cruelty” under the Tulsa city ordinances is defined as actions intended “to willfully or maliciously overdrive, overload, torture, torment, destroy or kill or cruelly beat or injure, maim or mutilate, any animal in subjugation or captivity, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to himself or to another, or depriving any such animal of necessary food, drink or shelter; or causing, procuring or permitting any such animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, tortured, tormented, destroyed or killed, or cruelly beaten or injured, maimed or in any way furthering any act of cruelty to any animal or in any act tending to produce such cruelty.” The state statute is very similarly worded, but allows such acts to be treated as a felony calling for imprisonment of up to one year in a county jail or up to five years in a state penitentiary and/or a fine of up to $500.00. Any officer finding an animal so maltreated or abused may also take possession of the animal and is able to place a lien on it which must be paid prior to its reclamation.
The main solution for many animal neglect situations lies in education. And, fortunately, society has begun to recognize that those who intentionally abuse animals often continue that cycle of violence on humans. Until it stops, please be vigilant. If you see a neglected or abused animal, please take action – it could save a life.
