​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How to Report Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty and abuse are serious offenses, and Broward County Animal Care and Adoption investigates these cases thoroughly.

Animal cruelty is prohibited under the Broward County Animal Care Ordinance, Sections 4-17 and 4-20. These regulations apply to all animals, not just dogs and cats.

The ordinance defines animal cruelty as:

"Any person who beats, cruelly ill-treats, torments, overloads, overworks, or otherwise abuses an animal, or intentionally causes such animal to be mutilated or inhumanely killed, or causes the same to be done, or otherwise treats an animal in a cruel or inhumane manner, shall be deemed to be in violation of this section."

Common Examples of Animal Cruelty

Allowing an animal to become underweight or live in unsanitary conditions.

Failing to provide medical treatment for an animal's illness or injury.

Failing to provide adequate shelter and clean drinking water, especially during extreme heat or rain.

Using a tether that is too short or confining an animal in a crate that is too small.

Leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows partially open, which can lead to heat exhaustion or death.

Beating, mistreating, tormenting, or otherwise abusing an animal.

Intentionally mutilating or inhumanely killing an animal.

Overloading or overworking an animal.

Exposing an animal to poison.

Participating in dog fighting, training animals to fight, or maintaining a location where animal fighting occurs.

Types of Animal Cruelty

Acts of violence, neglect, fighting, and physical abuse are all considered forms of animal cruelty. In general, animal abuse and cruelty fall into five major categories:

Abandonment and Neglect — Dogs and cats that are neglected often suffer for extended periods and may die if left without clean food, fresh water, or proper care. This category also includes animals that are sick or injured and in obvious need of medical attention.

Dog Fighting — Organized dog fighting, whether part of a large operation or a neighborhood backyard "sparring match," is illegal. Using "bait dogs" to train fighting dogs is also illegal.

Malicious Poisoning — Intentionally placing poisoned food or water with the purpose of harming a dog or cat.

Puppy and Kitten Mills — Large-scale commercial breeding operations that prioritize profit over the health and well-being of animals. Unlike responsible breeders, puppy and kitten mills often produce as many animals as possible while providing inadequate living conditions and veterinary care. Many pets sold through retail pet stores originate from these operations.

Physical Abuse — Intentionally beating, tormenting, mutilating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a dog or cat.

A dog or cat collar that has become so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck.

Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated.

Untreated severe skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bleeding, bumps or rashes.

Extreme thinness or emaciation to the point of seeing protruding bones or sagging skin.

Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other visible parasites.

Failure to provide adequate grooming, to the point of causing extreme matting of fur, excessive overgrown nails and imbedded dirt.

Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally. Signs of tremors or seizure activity that is not being medically treated.

Heavy discharge from eyes or nose. Persistent coughing or wheezing that is not being medically treated.

A person observed hitting, kicking or physically abusing a dog or cat.

A dog or cat that has been tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water or left with spoiled food or unsanitary drinking water.

A dog or cat that is forced to remain outside in inclement weather (severe heat, rain, storm events) without access to adequate shelter or safe protection.

A dog or cat that is forced to live in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could cause physical harm or injury.

A dog or cat that is housed in a kennel or cage that is too small to allow the animal to stand up, turn around or otherwise make normal movements. Overcrowding of dogs or cats into one kennel, cage or penned up confinement that inhibits normal movement.

Educate Others. Help educate others about the importance of providing for the basic needs of all dogs and cats:

Love, attention, and compassionate care.

Proper shelter from the sun and rain, such as a sturdy dog house or cat shelter. Ideally, pets should live inside an air-conditioned home.

Clean, fresh water and nutritious food every day.

Clean and sanitary areas to live, rest, and play, both indoors and outdoors.

A safe, air-conditioned vehicle when traveling.

Regular veterinary care, including rabies vaccinations and spaying or neutering.

A Broward County pet license and a registered microchip for identification.

Set a Good Example. If you have pets, remember they need more than food, water, and shelter. Show them love and attention every day. If you believe your pet is sick or injured, seek veterinary care promptly. Be a responsible pet owner by having your pets spayed or neutered and keeping their vaccinations, Broward County registration, and microchip information current.

Community Cats

There is no leash law for cats in Broward County. Unowned outdoor cats are considered community cats and are part of the neighborhoods in which they live. In some cases, these cats may become a nuisance by entering private property, urinating or defecating, or accessing unwanted areas.

Step 1

First, determine whether the cat belongs to someone in the neighborhood. Knock on nearby doors to ask if anyone is missing a cat, and check for a collar or identification tag.

If the cat is owned and creating a nuisance, call Animal Care Dispatch at 954-359-1313, Option 2. An Animal Care Specialist can speak with the owner about the issue and advise them that the cat may be subject to trapping if it continues to create a nuisance.

If the cat's left ear has a missing tip (known as an ear tip), it is an indication that the cat is a sterilized community cat. If the cat is unowned, check whether neighbors are providing food and water and acting as caretakers.

Step 2

If neighbors are caring for community cats, they should follow Broward County's Community Cat Ordinance, available here:

Broward County Code of Ordinances – Community Cats 

If community cats are entering your property and becoming a nuisance, there are several humane deterrents that can help discourage unwanted behaviors such as digging, spraying, or damaging property.

Learn more about humane deterrents here:

Humane & Natural Cat Deterrents – Alley Cat Allies 

Step 3

Community cats that are humanely trapped on your private property, or with the property owner's permission, may be brought to Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

These cats will be sterilized, vaccinated against rabies, ear-tipped, and returned to the location where they were trapped on the morning following surgery.

Sterilizing and vaccinating community cats helps control the population by preventing unwanted litters while also improving the overall health of the colony.

If community cats are repeatedly acting aggressively or attacking people, sterilization can often reduce behaviors associated with mating and territorial aggression. If the problem continues and presents a safety concern, call 954-359-1313, Option 2, or email communitycats@broward.org for assistance.

At-Large Dogs

A dog running loose (at large) may create safety concerns by defecating in yards, knocking over garbage cans, or threatening people and pets. Broward County Ordinance Section 4-3 requires all dogs to be on a leash whenever they are off their owner's property.

Broward County residents (excluding Coral Springs, Hollywood, Margate, and Pompano Beach, which have their own animal control agencies) can report at-large dogs by following these steps:

Step 1

Call Animal Care at 954-359-1313 and select Option 2 between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Be prepared to provide:

• Your name and contact information.
• The complete address of the dog's owner, if known.
• A description of the dog.

An Animal Care Specialist will visit the residence to educate the owner about applicable ordinances and verify that the dog has a current rabies vaccination and Broward County registration tag. If necessary, the Specialist may issue a citation or a 30-day warning for expired rabies vaccinations or registration tags.

Please note that an Animal Care Specialist cannot issue a citation for an at-large dog unless they personally witness the violation or you provide evidence of the violation and are willing to testify in court.

If you are unsure where the dog lives, provide as much information as possible, including a description of the dog, where and when it is typically seen, the identity of the owner (if known), and when the owner is likely to be home.

Step 2

Ask the dispatcher for the Activity Number associated with your report. You may then request a copy of the completed investigation by emailing ACAD_PRR@broward.org and referencing the Activity Number.

Barking Dogs

Barking dog complaints are generally enforced through your city's noise ordinance. If your municipality is unable to resolve the issue, it may request assistance from Broward County under County Nuisance Ordinance Section 4-8.

Broward County Animal Care responds only to complaints in the unincorporated areas of Broward County. For incorporated cities, contact your local Code Enforcement Department or Police Department for assistance.

Biting Dogs

If you or your pet has been bitten by a dog, call Broward County Animal Care at 954-359-1313, extension 9297, between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Be prepared to provide the dog's owner's name and complete address, along with the time of day the owner is most likely to be home.

An Animal Care Specialist will investigate the incident by visiting both your residence and the dog owner's residence. If warranted, a citation may be issued, and the dog may be required to wear a muzzle depending on the outcome of the investigation.

If the citation is appealed, you may be required to appear in court as a witness.

Animal Care does not handle nuisance wildlife situations