Law4Paws is a call to act. Report what you see, demand that the law is enforced, and stand with the people doing the rescuing.
Wangwang the mama dog, filmed after her rescue.
A dog on a one-metre chain. A litter dumped at the roadside. Fights run for money. People walk past because they are not sure it counts, or not sure anyone will act.
It counts. Laws against mistreating animals exist in almost every country, and they cover far more than beatings. If you can name what you saw, you can report it, and a report with a date, a place and a photo is the thing that gets an officer to a door.
This page gives you the names, the steps and the words. Use them.
Beating, kicking, burning, poisoning, or killing an animal without lawful reason.
No food, no water, no shelter from heat or rain, no treatment for an obvious injury or illness.
Leaving an animal to fend for itself, including dumping a pet or a litter when it becomes inconvenient.
Organising, attending, or betting on fights between animals, or training animals for them.
Cages too small to turn around in, permanent tethering, overcrowded or unventilated transport.
Puppy mills and unlicensed dealers that keep animals in conditions that cause suffering.
Wording differs by country, but the offences are the same, and so is what an investigator needs to open a case.
Singapore's main anti-cruelty law. Reports of cruelty go to the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) or, for immediate danger, the Police.
| If you saw | Record this | Then contact |
|---|---|---|
| An animal being hit or hurt | Date, time, exact address, what was done, who did it, any video taken from a public place | Police if it is happening now; the animal welfare authority after |
| An animal without food, water or shelter | Photos on more than one day, the conditions, the weather, how long it has been like this | The animal welfare authority; a local rescue group for follow-up |
| A dumped or abandoned animal | Where and when you found it, its condition, any collar or tag, photos | A rescue group or shelter, and the welfare authority if the owner is known |
| Fighting or baiting | Location, dates, vehicles and people involved; do not attend or film inside | Police. This is organised crime in most countries |
| A breeder or shop with sick, crowded animals | Name and address of the business, what you saw, photos of the enclosures | The licensing authority and the welfare authority |
Keep the reference number you are given. A caller who follows up a week later is the one whose case gets finished.
One report, one letter, one foster home. None of them needs permission. Pick one and do it now.
Laws that are not enforced protect no one. Copy this letter, fill in the three blanks, and send it to the person who represents you.
The people who pull animals out of these situations run on volunteers and small donations. Rescue work is where a case ends well.
Law4Paws will list the rescue groups it works with here. Until then, search for a registered shelter in your city.