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Reporting Suspected Animal Abuse or Neglect“proof”
Don’t worry if you can’t “prove” your claim. It is the police’s job to do a welfare check when animal cruelty is suspected.
If you suspect animal cruelty, you need to contact law enforcement.
North Platte Police Department: (308) 535-6789
Lincoln County Sheriffs Department: (308) 535-9959
North Platte State Patrol Office: (308) 535-8047
Documentation
If you can, document times and dates of the abuse or of animals left outside without access to food, water, and/or shelter. Photos and videos will help the police when they make contact with the owner.
Your actions can help save lives!
Interacting with Law Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies have limited resources and personnel, so be respectful of their challenges.
If you don’t hear back from the officer assigned to your case, you can follow up with them.
You can also contact a supervisory officer or local government official if you think no action has been taken.
Going onto someone’s property to investigate or rescue a pet can be dangerous and may result in trespassing or theft charges. Make your observations or take video/photos from your own property or a public area.
The Big Picture
When people abuse animals it is often a symptom of a larger problem. Animal cruelty is against the law in every state, and certain acts of animal abuse are also considered felonies. It is important to report a suspected crime, whether it is animal abuse, child abuse, or some other illegal act.
Signs of animal abuse include:
Lack of food or water
Lack of shelter
As of June 1, 2016, City Ordinance for all Dog Owners in North Platte, NE it is now considered Animal Cruelty/Abuse to have dogs living on a chain that is shorter than 10 feet in length.
Also, dogs can not be chained up with a choke chain or pinch/prong collar. They must also have at all times at least, a 3 sided dog house, fresh water, and shade for the summer.