Animal Case Frequently Asked Questions

The short answer: ultimately, animal cruelty is whatever society says it is. The long answer: even though we all have unique perspectives and opinions on what defines animal cruelty, we must respect what the laws of our state outline. ARS 13-2910 is an extensive statute, covering everything from animal abandonment, to physical abuse and neglect. The statute also includes a definition as to what constitutes an "animal" in the State of Arizona. (Spoiler Alert: fish are not included.) Arizona has come a long way, but the Animal Legal Defense Fund ranked us 28th in the nation for animal protection laws in 2020. Although that leaves room for us to improve, we do have a good foundation to build upon. (Fun fact: Maine ranked #1, and has held the spot for years.)

Animal welfare is not law enforcement's biggest priority, and unfortunately many officers haven't had the opportunity to train in this area. Importantly, animal crimes are often indicative of other things going on in a family dynamic. It has taken many years, but in 2016, the FBI finally included Animal Cruelty in the Uniform Crime Report as its own category. No longer are these offenses pushed aside into a general crime category, and that's because society and law enforcement are finally recognizing that animal crimes can foreshadow and mirror abuse in human relationships. Teaming up is the best way to help our police protect all life and property. (Fun fact: in Arizona, pets are allowed to be named on orders of protection!)

First of all, if you see an animal in immediate need of help, don't wait - call 911! If the situation isn't immediately dire, or law enforcement is not responding for whatever reason, contact us. Keep in mind that outside of direct law enforcement requests for assistance, these cases need to be handled like our other cases - with a contract and fees. We'd love to take all of our animal cases pro bono, but we're not at a point to do that just yet. We do, however, offer a major reduction in our fees for now. If you see a possible animal cruelty situation and you don't know what to do, call us. Our consultations are free, and if we can't help, we will work to direct you to someone who can. It never hurts to call!