Our pets and other animals rely on us to take care of them and provide them with needed veterinary services, food water and shelter. Unfortunately, some owners don't give them this kind of care.
Generally, animal cruelty can be divided into two categories: neglect and intentional cruelty.
- Neglect is the failure to provide an animal with the most basic requirements of food, water, shelter and veterinary care.
- Intentional cruelty occurs when an individual purposely inflicts physical harm or injury on an animal.
Animal owners and caretakers, under local and state law, must provide nutritious and wholesome food and water, dry shelter with adequate ventilation and protection from direct sunlight and proper veterinary care from a licensed professional as needed.
Causing an animal to fight another, intentionally harming or abandoning an animal is illegal.
How to spot animal cruelty
You may be a witness to cruelty if you see an animal that:
- Is repeatedly left alone without food and water.
- Is kept outside without shelter.
- Is abandoned.
- Has wounds on its body.
- Has severe hair loss.
- Is extremely thin.
- Is physically abused.
- Is provoked into fighting another animal.
If you witness animal neglect or cruelty, report it to Fort Worth Animal Care & Control at 817-392-1234 or via the MyFW app. Animal fighting should be immediately reported to the Fort Worth Police Department.