city_hall

Official websites use .boston.gov

A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.

lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Boston.gov Search

Get direct answers to your questions about City of Boston services, programs, and information. While we strive for accuracy by sourcing directly from Boston.gov, our search can occasionally provide unexpected results. You can help us improve by using the feedback buttons below each answer.

Questions? Contact us at digital@boston.gov.

Popular searches

Animal Cruelty and Neglect

Learn how to recognize animal cruelty and neglect and how to report suspected abuse.

Massachusetts law protects animals from abuse and neglect. Animals depend on people to provide proper care and to protect their well-being.

WHAT is animal ABUSE?

Animal abuse involves intentionally causing harm to an animal. Examples of animal abuse include:

  • Choking and kicking an animal
  • Drowning an animal
  • Hitting or beating an animal
  • Setting an animal on fire.
What is Animal Neglect

Animal neglect is a form of animal cruelty that occurs when an animal does not receive the care that it needs to stay healthy and safe. Examples of neglect include:

  • Failing to groom a dog when necessary.
  • Allowing a collar to become too tight.
  • Keeping a pet outside without providing access to adequate food, water and shelter.
  • Failing to provide necessary veterinary care.
 

What to do if you witness abuse

  • If you ever witness or suspect animal cruelty, contact animal control, humane law enforcement or the police as soon as possible.
  • If you witness an immediate threat to the animal’s safety, call the police. 
  • If it is safe to do so, document what you observe by taking video or photos of the incident. Do not put your safety at risk to gather evidence.

 

Report Concerns Responsibly

Animal abuse is a serious claim. Report what you have observed and allow the authorities to investigate. 

Animal Cruelty and Child Abuse

Animal cruelty can sometimes be associated with other forms of abuse or violence in the home. If a child is abusing an animal, it can be a sign that there are other forms of abuse or neglect going on in the home.  Our officers are trained to recognize and report signs of child abuse as they investigate animal abuse and neglect concerns. 

If you suspect animal cruelty or neglect, you can contact us at: 617-635-5348.

Help to prevent animal cruelty and neglect.  Everyone can help protect animals from cruelty and neglect by educating themselves and others on how to properly care for pets.

Types of Cruelty and Neglect

Animal abuse comes in many forms. Learn how to identify different types of abuse, and find out how you can help prevent it.

Dog fights and cock fights are illegal blood sports where the animals are forced to fight each other in an enclosed area. Fighting animals are trained to fight and may:

  • show intense aggression toward other dogs
  • have wounds and scars around the neck, face, and legs
  • have torn or damaged ears, or
  • have a heavy chain as a collar.
  • Very sweet and submissive towards people

There are often other crimes associated with animal fighting, like gambling and drug trafficking.  Animal fighting is a felony in all 50 states. If you know of anyone involved in this crime, animal control or the police immediately.

Owning a rooster or other farm animal is illegal in Boston. Call us right away if you know of anyone who owns farm animals. 

We get calls every summer about people leaving pets in hot cars. Even 10 - 15 minutes is enough to reach 160 degrees in a car. This can cause heat stroke, brain damage, and even death. If you see an animal in a hot car:

  • Call animal control or 911 right away 
  • Once rescued, move the pet to shade or air conditioning
  • Apply cool water or damp rags to their body and paws
  • Take the animal to a veterinarian immediately, if it appears in distress

In Massachusetts, it is unlawful to confine an animal in a motor vehicle in a manner that could reasonably be expected to threaten the animal’s health because of extreme heat or cold  General Law - Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 174F

Animal hoarders collect more animals than they can handle. The animals overrun the house and defecate wherever they want. It’s a huge health hazard to people and animals living in the house and neighborhood.

 

A young animal will grow into its collar if it's not replaced. Embedded collars can cause infections, strangulation, and death. They usually have to be surgically removed. It's also common in long-haired animals when the collar isn't easy to see.

 

Mange is caused by parasitic mites that cause painful itching. The animal will suffer from hair loss and sores from scratching and biting all the time. The sores can cause secondary infections if left untreated. Some forms of mange are contagious to people.

Long-haired and curly coated animals need regular grooming to keep from getting matted. If neglected, the mats get worse as time goes on and cause painful sores and infections. Massive matting is a form of neglect and you should report it right away.

Unfortunately, we see starvation cases all the time — animals that can barely walk because they are so weak. Starvation can be caused by a lack of food and water, or by an untreated disease, parasites, or improper food.

Untreated wounds can get infected and cause many other health issues. The wound can become infested with maggots, cause horrible pain, and eventually result in death. If you're ever unsure of how to treat a wounded animal, contact a vet right away.

Provide Your Feedback
Back to top