Prevent Cruelty to Animals

Posted By SLCo Animal Services
April 09, 2021

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Month. Salt Lake County Animal Services believes cruelty to animals and humans should be prevented all year long. If you believe an animal is being abused, please contact your local Animal Control to report it. In 2019, Salt Lake County Animal Control Officers responded to 2400 cruelty calls, and an additional 1400 calls in 2020.  

How to Report Animal Cruelty

Call your Local Animal Control Dispatch. If you live in Salt Lake County, you can begin by calling Dispatch at 801-840-4000. 

Try to gather the following information before submitting a report of animal cruelty:

A concise, written, factual statement of what you observed—giving dates and approximate times whenever possible—to provide to animal control/ law enforcement.

Photographs of the location, the animals in question and the surrounding area. Note: do not put yourself in danger! Do not enter another person's property without permission, and exercise great caution around unfamiliar animals who may be frightened or in pain.

If you can, provide animal control/law enforcement with the names and contact information of other people who have firsthand information about the abusive situation.

It is possible to file an anonymous report, but please consider providing your information. The case is more likely to be pursued when there are credible witnesses willing to stand behind the report and, if necessary, testify in court.

Keep a record of exactly whom you contacted, the date of the contacts, copies of any documents you provided to law enforcement or animal control and the content and outcome of your discussion. If you do not receive a response from the officer assigned to your case within a reasonable length of time, make a polite follow-up call to inquire about the progress of the investigation.