The ARL's Animal Welfare & Response Team investigates animal abuse and cruelty situations across Iowa. With the help of law enforcement, the ARL has improved the lives of hundreds of animals living in neglectful or abusive situations.
If this is an animal cruelty emergency, please call your local law enforcement. Your call could save a life.
If you have already contacted law enforcement and still need assistance, please complete this form.
Recognizing animal cruelty
When helping animals in neglect or abuse situations, it is important to first understand what constitutes animal neglect and abuse under Iowa law. People have different standards of care for their pets. While someone may not love and care for their pet like you do, it may not be a neglect or abuse situation. Ultimately, it will be up to law enforcement, prosecutors, veterinarians and a judge to determine if a case rises to the level of animal abuse or neglect, but the following is a basic guideline by Iowa law.
- Animal neglect: Iowa law states that all animals must have food, water, and proper veterinary care. Companion animals also must have adequate shelter. Animal neglect occurs when a person who owns or has custody of an animal fails to provide these things.
- Animal abuse: Iowa law states that animal abuse is intentionally injuring, maiming, disfiguring or destroying an animal owned by another person, in any manner, including intentionally poisoning the animal.
How to report neglect or abuse
If you observe or suspect animal abuse or neglect is occurring, take the following steps:
- Contact local law enforcement.
- Follow up with local law enforcement if it doesn’t seem like the situation has improved.
- If you still see no results, then contact the ARL’s Animal Welfare & Response team by completing this form. The ARL will work with local law enforcement to evaluate the situation and proceed with next steps.
When reporting animal cruelty, share detailed, factual information, including details about the incident, who was involved, and when and where the incident took place. The more details you provide, the greater chance the law will be upheld and the animal helped.
Please do not attempt to remove a pet from a potentially abusive or neglectful situation yourself and do not go on the property without local law enforcement present. This is for legal purposes and for safety.