What To Do When Witnessing Animal Abuse
Everyone knows that animal abuse is a scourge in our society and that all living beings must be treated with respect and affection. Unfortunately, crimes of animal abuse continue to occur and are reported. Find out what to do when witnessing animal abuse.
Laws against animal abuse
In Spain there is no single law against animal abuse, as is the case in other countries. The legislation, penalties and fines are regulated by each Autonomous Community and are very different, depending on where you are in the country. In the same way it happens with the American countries: each one has a unique legislation.
However, although the fines and details may vary, animal abuse is understood in a very similar way: to harm or endanger the health of an animal by action, such as cruel treatment, or by omission, such as abandoning it or leaving it without food or drink.
The responsibility to report animal abuse rests with whoever witnesses it. Without the collaboration of the rest of the citizens sensitized with this problem, the security forces cannot protect the animals.
The responsibility belongs to everyone: report
The first step to be able to report is to know who to turn to when witnessing animal abuse. Throughout Spain, Seprona, a division of the Civil Guard, is concerned with protecting animals and plants. In case you need to file a formal complaint, you must go to this body.
Since there is no single law that regulates animal abuse or its protection, each Autonomous Community, and even each City Council, may have its own means of protection. To find out which ones work in your area, you can ask at your Town Hall.
In addition, there are environmental or animalistic political parties that can help you. A few months ago, the Animalist Party Against Animal Abuse (PACMA) made the YoDenuncio website available to the public, which helps to write complaints and answers many of the doubts that citizens have. This is just an example, since if you get in touch with other political parties they can also help you.
Finally, you should not forget about the animal protection associations. Hundreds of volunteers work there who will be able to inform and advise you. And in the event that the complaint cannot be filed, they will help find a solution for the abused animal.
What kind of abuse
When reporting, we should differentiate what type of animal is being abused, since its future will depend on this.
In the case of domestic animals, if the complaint is successful, it is usual for the abuser to be removed from custody and sent to the kennel or put up for adoption through a shelter. In the case of farm animals it is more complicated, since they are large groups, but they are usually distributed among other livestock farms.
There have been cases of mistreatment of wild animals, which normally have effects only on the abuser, since the animal, if it can continue to live in freedom, returns to its habitat without further consequences.
The consequences of complaints
It is important to know what will happen after you report abuse. It is an uncomfortable truth that kennels in Spain are very non-transparent places and in many Autonomous Communities slaughter within their facilities is authorized.
By witnessing animal abuse and reporting it, you may be inadvertently condemning that animal to a cage or slaughter if it does not get adoption in a very short period of time. For this reason, protective associations usually ask to consult with them before making a complaint.
These associations emphasize that raising complaints of animal abuse is very difficult. Gradually sentences are appearing for abusers, but they are still exceptions. Added to this is the difficult life that the confiscated animal will lead.
Therefore, what these associations usually advise is to try to reach an agreement with the abuser out of court. That is, to get the abuser to give up the animal to the association or to a private individual and thus be able to put it up for adoption and find another family.
Personal responsibility
Whatever the type of complaint that you want to file when witnessing animal abuse, we must not forget the personal responsibility of the complainant. Animal abuse is a complex and delicate issue and for it to prosper it requires the collaboration of all citizens.
Both in the case of encountering an abandoned animal, as well as knowing a farm where the animals live under conditions of abuse, the personal involvement of the complainant is necessary. Without the awareness that these animals live badly, that they need a solution and the insistence with the authorities and the protectors, the complaints will not go ahead.
Animal abuse is a very serious problem in our society. At the moment there are few convictions or fines and the laws are beginning to tighten and enforce. Without the collaboration of citizens, the competent security forces and the protection entities, it would not be possible.
