Animal Rescue League of Worcester, is now offering area towns with Abuse and Cruelty Investigations.
Report Animal Cruelty
The Animal Rescue League of Worcester is now assisting area ACO’s and residents with identifying and reporting cases of animal cruelty. A.R.L. now has Legal Authority to intervene on behalf of abused and neglected animals, we also can provide resources and support to citizens. The following information is intended to aid you in your ability to take initiative to address animal abuse.
If you witness or suspect animal cruelty, you should contact your animal control department immediately.
If there is no animal control department available, please contact the Animal Rescue League of Worcester at
508-853-0030 and request to speak to an animal abuse investigator. If you would prefer email, please contact us at
What to Look For
Physical Observations
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Does the animal have access to food, water and shelter?
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Is his/her area clean?
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Does the animal have apparent injuries that have not been treated?
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Does the animal appear to be overly aggressive or timid?
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Does the animal appear to be neglected? (Neglect is vaguely defined as failure to provide an animal with necessary food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation, ventilation, space, or medical attention.)
Documentation
Documenting the incident with photographs and videotape can be very helpful in prosecution. If such cruelty is not witnessed directly but is suspected, animal control authorities should be notified. Reports of animal cruelty should be as detailed as possible. Dates, times and circumstances should be noted and related to animal control authorities, who should also be made aware of any physical evidence (photos, video, etc.).
Reporting Cruelty
A person reporting animal cruelty should ask for the name of the animal control officer and ask what action is planned. Follow up, and report any change observed in the animal's condition and situation. A person reporting animal cruelty need not be concerned with confidentiality. An investigating officer is not likely to identify the source of the complaint. Should the keeper of the animal be prosecuted, witnesses may be called to testify, but the immediate condition of the animal should outweigh concerns about having to testify months from now.
State Investigator
Animal Rescue League of Worcester police powers fall under the Massachusetts State Police Department. A Special State Police Officer under chapter 22C Section 57 is considered a duly accredited Agent of Humane Societies and Associations appointed by the Colonel of the State Police. Other known accredited agents are, Massachusetts Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Berkshire Animal protective Society, Inc., the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Boston Work Horse Relief Association, the Lowell Humane Society and the Animal Rescue League of New Bedford. These appointed Special State Police Officers shall have throughout the commonwealth of Massachusetts the powers of constables and police officers to arrest and detain any person violating any law for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
