Go Orange for Animals #fightcruelty

Have you ever witnessed an animal being abused? Anyone who has knows that it's one of the most horrific, helpless feelings you will ever experience.

Many years ago I was walking with my mother in our busy downtown shopping area. Just ahead of us was a man yanking and dragging his elderly dog behind him. People all around us were screaming at him to stop because his dog couldn't walk, but he ignored all of them and kept right on going.

This was before the days that everyone carried a cell phone on them, so people were going into nearby stores to call the police. It was a very tense and dangerous feeling situation, so out of fear for our safety we didn't stick around to see what would happen.

When we got home my mom called the humane society and asked to speak to our animal control officer where she explained what we had witnessed. The officer told her that they were aware of the situation, the man was known to them and had many complaints filed against him, but they were unable to tell us anymore because it was an ongoing investigation.

Many times I've wondered what ended up happening to that poor abused dog and wished that we had been able to do more than just make a phone call.

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The ASPCA is urging supporters to "Go Orange for Animals" in April for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month. They also want to remind us that we can help crack down on animal cruelty in our own communities, and have provided us with tips on how we can all help make the world a safer place for animals.

1) Know who to call to report animal cruelty. Every state and every town are different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact local animal control or another municipal agency. If you aren't sure where to report cruelty, please visit their Report Animal Cruelty section.

2) Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you're more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly—a possible indicator of abuse.

3) Make the call. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting an investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

4) Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. It's a great way to make a difference. Some ASPCA volunteers foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. You can find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area in their National Shelter Directory.

Please check out the entire list of the ASPCA's Top 10 Ways to Prevent Animal Cruelty.

We're joining our friend Oz The Terrier's Go Orange for Animals Blog Hop.