Your mission: Raise awareness in your community about how to recognize and report animal abuse and the need for strict anti-cruelty laws.

Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Animal cruelty is illegal in the U.S. And those who abuse animals are more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. Making people aware of this connection—and telling them how they can report animal cruelty—are important steps in breaking the cycle of abuse.

How? Give a presentation to elementary-school children on how to recognize and report animal cruelty. Write to your local and school newspapers to raise awareness about animal cruelty and fighting. Write to state legislators urging the passage of strict anti-cruelty laws. Just follow the steps below to prevent animal cruelty in your community.

1. Know your stuff. Cruelty to animals is illegal in all 50 states, but definitions and punishments vary widely. Cruelty generally includes neglect as well as malicious acts. It also includes animal fighting. Download our Combat Cruelty factsheet to learn more.

Find out whether animal cruelty and dog- and cockfighting are classified as misdemeanors or felonies in your state. How does your state define animal cruelty? Does the law only apply to cats, dogs, and other companion animals? Does it include cruelty to farm animals or wildlife? What are the punishments (sentences or fines) for acts of cruelty? Is counseling required or recommended for offenders? Good sources for this information include your state’s official website and the following pages on www.hsus.org:

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/state_cruelty_chart.pdf

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/dogfighting_statelaws.pdf

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/cockfighting_statelaws.pdf

Once you know your state’s laws, get to know the steps people should take to report animal abuse:

A. Know the signs. The following are common clues an animal might be in trouble. They don’t necessarily mean a pet has been hurt on purpose, but they should not be ignored. Animals who

• have cuts, scrapes, or other bruises
• have ticks or fleas
• are limping
• duck, whimper, or act aggressive when certain people approach
• are too thin
• are almost always left outside
• are missing fur

B. If you see any of the signs above or witness someone hurting an animal, write down the details, including date, time, location, and descriptions of the people and animals involved. If there are witnesses to the act, ask them for their names and contact information.

C. Young people should never handle something as serious as animal cruelty alone. Minors should ask a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult for help in reporting the case.

D. Contact your local animal shelter, sheriff’s department, or animal control officer. (You can usually find this information in the phone book.) Provide them with the details you have gathered.

E. Notify local police and social services departments. Again, provide them with the details and let them know you have also notified your animal shelter or animal control officer.

For more details on how to report animal cruelty, read Reporting Animal Abuse or Neglect and our Understanding Animal Cruelty study and activity guide.

2. Get the law on your side. After you’ve armed yourself with the facts, write letters to your state’s elected officials. Visit www.hsus.org/leglookup and type in your zip code to find out who your lawmakers are. Check out our Speak Up for Animals! guide for tips. Explain the link between animal cruelty and human violence and ask them to support stronger anti-cruelty laws. If you live in one of the states where animal cruelty, dogfighting, or cockfighting is still only a misdemeanor, ask your legislators to make it a felony offense. If you live in one of the states or territories where cockfighting is still legal, ask your legislators to ban it.

3. Use the news. Help inform the rest of your community by writing to your local newspaper. Explain the connection between animal cruelty and human violence, and outline the steps people should take to report animal abuse. Encourage readers to write to legislators to push for passage of stronger anti-cruelty laws. Find tips for writing and submitting a letter to the editor in our Mission: Humane Action Guide. Also, check out The HSUS's sample letters-to-the-editor about dogfighting and cockfighting.

You can also use the airwaves to raise awareness. Just listen to and download one or more of these six broadcast-quality public service announcements in which HSUS President & CEO Wayne Pacelle discusses the problem of animal fighting and what every individual can do to help stop the cruelty. Then send the MP3 file(s) to the PSA director of your local radio station with a request that the station air this important message on animal cruelty.

4. Pass it on. Prepare a presentation to teach elementary school students what animal cruelty is and what they can do about it.

• First, contact the teacher(s) whose classes you’d like to work with. Explain who you are and that you would like to give a presentation on what kids can do about animal cruelty. Set up a date and time that works for you and the class.

• Learn the steps kids should take if they suspect an animal is being abused or neglected. For materials specifically aimed at this age group, see here and the downloadable “What would you do if you saw someone hurting an animal?” flier for children. (Write to us for the fliers, or download and make copies yourself.) You can also email us for a free copy of our What Is Animal Cruelty? And What Can You Do About It? coloring book.

• Put together a brief, interactive presentation using info from the materials listed above. Keep it creative and simple to hold students’ attention. Consider reading aloud from the What Is Animal Cruelty? coloring book and making copies of coloring pages to hand out. Before giving your presentation, go over it with the class’s teacher to make sure it’s age-appropriate.

Be sure to emphasize that children should never try to help an abused animal or confront an abuser on their own! They should always ask a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, school counselor, or police officer, for help.

• Hand out a “What would you do if you saw someone hurting an animal?” flier and Junior Animal Care Agent badge (right-click the link and select "Save Target As" to download the badge to your computer) to each student. Fill out the fliers beforehand with phone numbers for the local police department, animal care and control officer or animal shelter, and a wildlife hotline or rehabilitator. Tell each of them that they can be a junior animal care agent and help stop cruelty where they live.

• The key to any successful presentation is preparation! Practice your presentation before friends, relatives, or club members. Make sure you have all the materials you’ll need—and the right quantities—beforehand. For more tips on giving a successful classroom presentation, visit http://www.humanesocietyyouth.org/resources/presentation_tips.asp.

• Follow up your presentation by asking students to fill out a survey. Questions could include, What did you learn today? When it comes to animals, will you do anything differently from now on? If so, what? What was your favorite part of this lesson? Least favorite? If you wish, use the feedback to change your presentation and continue presenting to other classes.

Also, be sure to tell your classmates, teachers, and family about what you’ve learned. You can download a flyer for teens here . Information on how teachers can spot signs of animal abuse is available at http://www.nahee.org/resources/animal_cruelty.asp. If you would like materials mailed to you, please contact us.

5. Tell us about it. Fill out our Mission: Accomplished web form. Ask the teacher to whose class you presented to sign your student survey. Send these to us, along with copies of your letters to lawmakers and letter to the editor.

Your reward: Be KIND wristband