REPORT ABUSE

The Equine Rescue League, like most other horse welfare organizations, has no law enforcement authority. We depend on local Animal Control Officers, Sheriff’s deputies and state humane investigators to intervene in cases of suspected abuse or neglect. If mistreatment is observed, the officers may work with the horse’s owners to correct the situation, may negotiate with the owner resulting in surrender of ownership rights, or may seize the animal immediately if conditions appear life-threatening.

Most Animal Control and sheriff’s departments, though, don’t have facilities suitable for housing horses. That is where equine welfare groups come in; we provide the housing needed after surrender or during prosecution of cruelty cases in local courts.

What You Can Do
Law enforcement officers cannot investigate if you don’t let them know when there is a problem. So the best way that you can help is to report the situation. Please don’t assume that someone else will do it! If everyone else has that same idea, the situation will not get reported, plus the more complaints registered about the same situation, the more likely you are to see timely results.

Who You Can Call For Help
Most counties have an Animal Control department, or at least a designated AC Officer or Animal Warden. If you can’t find a number for an AC department, check with your county sheriff’s office. More often than not, the AC officer falls under his/her management. You can visit the National Association of Counties to find listings of county websites that will assist you in finding the proper contacts.

In Virginia, there are also State Humane Investigators, trained and certified by the VA Department of Agriculture, but empowered by local governments to enforce the applicable laws. Contact your local humane society or call the ERL to find out if there is a Virginia State Humane Investigator in your area. In other states, please contact your Department of Agriculture to see if there is an equivalent office.

When you call to report a suspected case of abuse, be ready to provide as many details as possible: where the horse is located, including an address or good directions; what the problem is and how long the situation has existed; a description of the horse; and contact information of other people who have witnessed the problem. You may also want to provide a phone number for a horse rescue facility, if any, or for an equine veterinarian in case the AC officer has little experience with horses.

The bottom line is this: you are the abused horse’s first line of communication with someone who can help. Don’t let him down.

THANK YOU!