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Animal Cruelty - How to Report It

To find out how to get help for instances where animal welfare is being compromised, please click on one of the categories below:

Emergency care for your pet
Domestic animal cruelty or neglect
Farm animal cruelty or neglect
Wild animal concerns
Animal injury
Report suspicion of a puppy or kitten mill

Please note that the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) is not an animal rescue centre nor do we provide rescue services. The CFHS is a national federation that represents humane societies and SPCAs but we do not have jurisdiction over the societies or their operations. The CFHS also does not do cruelty inspections.

Emergency care for your pet

If your pet or if you see a pet in need of emergency care, please contact your local veterinary clinic.

If your emergency is after hours, call your local veterinary clinic and listen to the instructions for 24 hour emergency services during the recording.

Domestic animal cruelty or neglect

If you’ve witnessed an act of animal cruelty or neglect, please call your local SPCA or humane society and speak to the Animal Cruelty Investigations department.

If you live outside of your shelter’s jurisdiction, call the provincial SPCA or contact the police.

Farm animal cruelty or neglect

If you’ve witnessed an act of animal cruelty or neglect on a farm, please call your local SPCA or humane society. If your shelter does not attend to farm animal concerns or you live outside your local shelter’s jurisdiction, please contact the provincial SPCA or the police.

Wild animal concerns

If you’re having conflicts with wild animals on your property or in your neighbourhood, please contact a local wildlife centre or your provincial ministry of natural resources.

Animal injury

If you see any animal in need of emergency care, please find the best animal hospital or local veterinary clinic that could care for that animal.

If your emergency is after hours, call your local animal hospital or veterinary clinic and listen to the instructions for 24 hour emergency services during the recording.

Report suspicion of a puppy or kitten mill

How to recognize a puppy or kitten mill:

Loud and constant barking/yelping coming from buildings
Animals are rarely brought outside for exercise
Malnourished animals
Females are constantly being bred for puppies or kittens
Animals are kept in unsanitary cages often stacked on top of each other
Stalls or cages are caked in excrement
Minimal veterinary treatment
Large number of dogs in one area
Puppies of many different breeds

If these descriptions fit a situation in your neighbourhood, please call your local humane society or SPCA and explain the situation to the Animal Cruelty Investigations department.

If you live outside of your shelter’s jurisdiction, contact the police for assistance.