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How to Recognize Animal Cruelty

While an aggressive, timid, or fearful animal may appear to be a cruelty victim, it is not possible to know if an animal is being abused based on their behavior alone.

It is always best to examine the animal and its surrounding environment to determine whether or not he or she needs help.​

Physical Signs of Cruelty

  • A tight collar that 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 skin conditions that have caused the loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes

  • Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible

  • Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites

  • Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes

  • Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails, and dirty coat

  • Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally

  • Heavy discharge from eyes or nose

  • An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal

  • Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness

Environmental Signs of Cruelty

  • Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary

  • Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter

  • Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them

  • Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements

City of Kodiak

7.04.010 Cruelty to animals

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(a) No person may knowingly wound, injure, torment, abuse, mutilate, torture, or inhumanely kill any animal.

(b) No person may intentionally poison any dog, cat, or other domestic animal, or distribute or place poison in a manner or location where the distributor knows or should reasonably know that the poison will be accessible to a domestic animal.

(c) No person may abandon an animal by releasing the animal to forage for itself or by confining or restraining the animal for a period in excess of 18 consecutive hours in a place where there is not a custodian who has assumed the responsibility of providing sufficient food and water.

(d) The owner or custodian of an animal shall provide food and water sufficient to maintain the animal in a healthy condition, and adequate and proper shelter for the animal to protect the animal from weather. Shelter maintained for animals kept outside of a residential dwelling shall meet the following standards:

(1) Animals shall not be overcrowded;

(2) Animals shall not be exposed to excessive heat or cold;

(3) Animal shelters shall be draft free;

(4) Clean animal bedding shall be provided which shall be of a sufficient size and quality for the animals being kept; and

(5) All structures, pens, coops, or yards shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, devoid of rodents and varmints, and free of objectionable odor.

(e) No person may use a live bird as a target to be shot at either for amusement or as a test of skill for marksmanship. [Ord. 436 §1, 1975]

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Kodiak Island Borough

6.04.020 Cruelty to animals

A. No person may knowingly wound, injure, torment, abuse, mutilate, torture, or inhumanely kill any animal.

B. No person may intentionally poison any dog, cat, or other domestic animal, or distribute or place poison in a manner or location where the distributor knows or should reasonably know that the poison will be accessible to a domestic animal.

C. No person may abandon any animal by releasing the animal to forage for itself or by confining or restraining the animal for a period in excess of 18 consecutive hours in a place where there is not a custodian who has assumed the responsibility of providing sufficient food and water.

D. The owner or custodian of an animal shall provide food and water sufficient to maintain the animal in a healthy condition, and adequate and proper shelter for the animal, to protect the animal from weather. Shelters maintained for animals kept outside of a residential dwelling shall meet the following standards:

1. Animals shall not be overcrowded;

2. Animals shall be protected from excessive heat or cold or have access to habitat as protection from extreme weather conditions;

3. All structures, pens, coops, or yards where an animal is immediately confined shall have appropriate bedding or sufficient area to prevent the animal from being forced to lie in wet or unsanitary conditions, be devoid of rodents and varmints, and free of extreme objectionable odor. [Ord. 98-29 §4, 1999; Ord. 96-12 §2, 1996; Ord. 86-16-O §2, 1986. Formerly §6.04.010]

If you think someone you know is abusing animals, be their voice and please speak up. The best thing you can do is report your suspicions of cruelty to Kodiak Animal Control. Please call 486-8000 to speak with the animal control officer. Animal Control does have jurisdiction in both the city and borough. 

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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 law enforcement.

  • Photographs or videos of the location, the animals in question and the surrounding area, if possible 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 with the names and contact information of other people who have firsthand information about the abusive situation.

  •  You may call in an anonymous report, but please consider providing your information. The case is more easily pursued when there are credible witnesses willing to stand behind the report and, if necessary, testify in court. Without a signed statement, often times it is difficult for the animal control officer to pursue, as it essentially becomes a "He said, She said" situation.

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