Are there mandated animal-cruelty reporters besides humane investigators?
There are no laws that require social service workers to report animal cruelty, but professional boards and organizations are moving in that direction. Laws in four states require veterinarians to report animal cruelty. The American Veterinary Medical Association, in its Model Practice Act, states that it “considers it the responsibility of the veterinarian to report (animal cruelty) to the appropriate authorities.” A precedent setting 1995 policy in San Diego requires the city’s Department of Social Services and the Children’s Services Bureau to report animal cruelty to the San Diego Department of Animal Control. All emergency responders, including humane investigators, should cross-report all forms of abuse. * Do humane investigators report child abuse and other forms of violence in a community? Yes. Social service agencies confirm that humane investigators are accurate reporters of human violence. * How can victims of domestic violence find shelter for their pets if they need to lea
