Seeing an owner mistreat or neglect an animal, or encountering a lost pet that is ill or injured, can be distressing.
This article tells you who to contact to help the pet and clarifies exactly what the laws says about how you should help an animal in distress.
Click here to book an online pet first aid course
Witnessing cruelty or abuse
If you are unfortunate enough to witness an act of cruelty to a pet, whilst it is upsetting and your instincts may urge you to intervene immediately, you need to bear the following factors in mind:
- You may become injured yourself as a result of intervening.
- Dog are incredibly loyal by nature and could possibly attack you if you became embroiled in an argument with their owner.
- You may scare off the owner who may disappear with their pet, leaving no evidence for the police to take action.
How to respond
The advice is to dial 999, contact the police and follow their advice on what to do whilst waiting for the emergency response. Each situation will be different.
Suspecting cruelty or abuse
You may suspect neglect, abuse or mistreatment but have no proof – what then?
Cruelty
Warning signs of abuse can be an animal who is poor condition and in poor spirits.
Sometimes the animal may have unexplained injuries or wounds and display fear towards their owners.
Neglect
Neglect of a pet is a difficult area to prove since everyone has different standards they consider appropriate for a pet. For example, some owners may feed their pets less than others. However, an animal would have to be dangerously thin (or fat) before the authorities would intervene.
If you suspect an owner is neglecting an animal, flag the issue with the RSPCA who will conduct a thorough investigation.
RSPCA
The Royal Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or RSPCA is a charity which receives a call every 30 seconds.
It is the largest animal welfare charity in the UK and although it does not have additional powers outside the law, it is the only UK animal charity which actively seeks prosecution in cases of animal cruelty.
Hundreds of successful RSPCA actions are made every year, preventing thousands of animals from further suffering through public action.
Call the cruelty line
If you need to report cruelty or an animal in distress, the 24-hour cruelty line is 0300 1234 999. It operates 24 hours a day although sadly, sometimes the call volume is so high your call may be placed in a queue. The call costs the same as a call to a UK landline number.
What to expect?
A trained RSPCA call handler will ask questions in order to prioritise your call and assess whether there is enough information for their officers to investigate. They will ask for details of the animal’s location and owner and a detailed description of what you have seen or heard in relation to the animal’s bodily condition and environmental condition. This will include:
- details of the date, time and place of the offence.
- photographs showing the cruelty. These should provide a clear picture of the abuse, and crucially can act as evidence in a prosecution case.
Never put yourself at risk in order to take photographs but if you can safely take them, they can be useful. If you have photographic evidence then do mention this to the RSPCA controller who takes your call.
The RSPCA have guidelines for ‘Five Welfare Needs’.
- suitable location to live
- proper diet, including fresh water
- the ability to express normal behaviour
- to be housed with, or apart from, other animals
- protection from – and treatment of – illness and injury.
Click here to book a practical pet first aid course.
You will be asked for details of the pet owners
- names and addresses of people involved (if known)
- names and addresses of any witnesses (if known)
- registration number and description of any vehicle involved.
You will also be asked to provide
Your name, address and telephone number.
You must give your personal details. This policy is put in place to minimise malicious and prank calls.
This is for the RSPCA’s records and also in case the RSPCA officer local to the case needs to contact you for additional details.
If you wish to know the result of the officer’s investigation, he or she will need your details to contact you back. Please note that this may only be when the investigation has been concluded.
Will my report be confidential?
The RSPCA will keep personal information in confidence and will not share it with anyone unless authorised by law.
Other ways of reporting animal cruelty
You can also contact the RSPCA online service to report animal cruelty here: https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty
How the complaint is investigated
When a complaint of cruelty or injury is filed, either by call or online, the RSPCA prioritises all reports in order of severity and urgency.
Trained and experienced officers
An experience and trained RSPCA officer will investigate each case. They attend the site of the alleged abuse and ask the owner to inspect the animal. However, if their owner refuses, the RSPCA officer has no legal right of access.
Police and social services
The RSPCA often works with the police and social services to try and improve situations where a pet may be at risk. Sometimes they will remove the animals from the situation.
Education about animal welfare
Additionally, where animals are not receiving adequate treatment because of poor knowledge on the part of the owner, the RSPCA officer helps educate the owner and help them improve the pet’s living conditions until they are within RSPCA acceptable standards.
Court cases
On certain occasions of mistreatment an RSPCA officer may have an active role in giving evidence in a prosecution case that has gone to court.
If you remain concerned
Because of such a high volume of reports, plus having limited resources, the RSPCA respond as quickly as possible.
If you’ve already reported a situation but it looks like it’s getting worse, call again.
Healthy stray or abandoned dogs
The RSPCA only attends to stray or abandoned dogs that are at severe risk from illness or injury.
Dogs who are stray and abandoned – but otherwise healthy –should be reported to the dog warden service of your local council: https://www.gov.uk/check-council-missing-dog
Report a stray dog here
Report a stray dog here: https://www.gov.uk/report-stray-dog
Microchipped by law
Your dog should wear a collar and tag with your name and contact details. You must microchip your dog by law to help you find them if they go missing.
Lost your dog?
The RSPCA recommend this website which is exclusively used by their inspectors. https://www.petslocated.com
Reporting a barking dog
The noise department of your local authority should be notified about a barking dog as a noise complaint.
However, if there are any issues regarding the animal’s welfare the council will raise these with the RSPCA later.
Worried about a dog kept outdoors?
Although it is not illegal to keep a dog outside, the pet must be able to access adequate food water and shelter.
How can I help injured wildlife?
If the animal is smaller than a rabbit, getting in touch with the vet or wildlife rehabilitation centre will be the quickest way to get help. Usually these wont charge you for treatment to wildlife. Do always call ahead first to confirm they can accept and treat the injured animal.
Call the RSPCA – if the injured wildlife is larger than a rabbit.
If you find a whale, dolphin or porpoise on a beach?
Remain at a safe distance and do not touch the animal.
Either call the RSPCA or the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Hotline: 01825 765546 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
07787 433412 Out of office hours and Bank Holidays
We have a number of free courses which can be found here.
About Us:
Written by Emma Hammett.
First Aid for Pets provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for veterinary advice. The author does not accept any liability or responsibility for any inaccuracies or for any mistreatment or misdiagnosis of any person or animal, however caused. It is strongly advised that you attend a practical First Aid for Pets course or take our online course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.
I am concerned for a dog in a filthy kennel which appears to be in a great deal of distress
The owner never appears to be home and I feel the dog has been neglected and at worse abandoned
Please advise what my rights are to intervene
take the dog while the owners are out!! I have gone through police & RSPCA over a puppy who is knowingly being abused. he killed the dog before including causing a popped eyeball. They have done NOTHING!! If you can save him yourself I am now looking for a way to do so in my situation.
We try to do things the right way, the legal and it does nothing. I hope you can save the poor dog xx
I’m concerned about a neighbours 5month old husky puppy its tied up outside and in distress she also keeps it locked up in a cage it cries at night from 5am in the morning until 11am its in distress every night I would like you to do a welfare check address 30 godwin close Cambridge
Call the RSPCA helpline in the article, plus the police. Perhaps even ask the neighbor if they would like any help, eg free dog walking help.
I have a concern about a German shepherd puppy. The owner brings her to the pub quite a lot. She seems scared when you go to stroke her and automatically lies down.
We called the RSPCA last Sunday regarding a dog that is owned by an elderly couple. The dog never goes out for walks and his fur is severely matted. The couple cannot look after the dog.
It needs to be looked at asap and I think it may be in distress.
No one has been to the address since our call to the RSPCA last Sunday 4th September which is unacceptable.
My neighbours constantly leave their cat out ever since they got their dog atleast 6/7 months ago, the poor thing is half the size, looks so depressed and sad, constantly cries to come in for hours and they do nothing, recently they have kept locking the dog outside even in this weather for hours on end and the poor things whines so much, i dont know what to do or who to report to! i just want these animals a loving warm home!!
My ex has our dog we purchased but constantly leaving him alone for substantial amount of time! Over 8 hours through the day whilst she doesn’t work. But serious concerns on the leaving him overnight every other weekend at least 24 hours with no interaction from anyone no one checking on him
I was forced to put the microchip in my exs name and if I change it without consent I know I can be in trouble for this?
I want the best interest for my dog even if she kept him that would be ok if he was looked after correctly.
1 year old and still using puppy mats locked in a kitchen 95% of the time. And has previously said I could have him as she was looking to “sell” him although this hasn’t been mentioned recently.
I’m experiencing intense anxiety because our new neighbours have “acquired” a big beautiful Chow Chow boy, who is approximately 16 months. They keep this big dog on a tiny balcony 24/7, no shelter no nothing. The couple shout and argue all hours. If the dog is in distress they tell him to shut up. I
have knocked on their door when he is in clear distress and I can hear him pushing his metal bowl around. It’s simply torture. I’ve called police, RSPCA, local council, council dog warden a month ago but I am still having to hear this beautiful animal, live in solitary silence 24/7, no compassion and love.
I’ve also contacted my local MP today.