Stop Animal Cruelty

• Open sores or cuts on the animal’s body
• Bruising, bleeding or other apparent injury to the animal’s anus and/or genital regions
• Patches of missing fur
• Tick or flea infestation
• Extremely thin body
• Limping/inability to walk
• Witness an owner hitting or beating an animal
• Dogs repeatedly left outside without food, water or shelter
• Dogs kept outside during extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, etc. with no shelter
• A house with an excessive amount of animals
• Cowering in fear or acting aggressively (especially when approached by the owner)
• Pets left in parked cars (during hot weather)

According to state law (ARS 13-2910), people are required to provide their pets with adequate food, water, shelter and medical treatment. Pets who are chained or tethered will often get entangled, cutting off access to these basic needs. Some Arizona cities do have tethering ordinances, including:

• Phoenix prohibits the tethering of pets in extreme weather conditions (below 32 degrees or above 100 degrees) and also prohibits restraints shorter than 10 feet in length. Chains may not be used as a mechanism for tethering.
• Glendale prohibits tethering for the purpose of animal confinement, regardless of weather conditions.
• Tempe prohibits tethering when the temperature is below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees, and pets must be supervised by somebody physically at the property.
• Chandler prohibits the tethering of pets when the temperature is below 32 degrees or above 100 degrees or if a heat or extreme weather advisory has been issued.

We also recommend these additional safety guidelines:

• If you have no choice but to tether and it is legal to do so where you live, the dog should have a long tether and be free of obstacles that might get them tangled.
• Collars should be fitted properly.
• The water bowl should be secured so the dog cannot tip it over.
• Metal heats up! Both food and water should be in plastic, not metal, bowls.
• Dog should not be left unsupervised for long periods of time.
• During excessive heat warnings, bring pets indoors.

In the City of Phoenix, adequate shelter is defined as:

• Structurally sound and accessible year-round to protect the animal from extreme weather conditions.
• Sufficient in size to allow animals to enter, stand, turn around and lie down while also having adequate ventilation and drainage.

Individuals who do not provide adequate shelter to their pets can be charged with animal cruelty.

We encourage people to never leave their pets unattended in a vehicle. Arizona’s Samaritan Hot Car Law allows people to take action should they see a child or pet in a hot car.

Learn more about Hot Car Safety.

Unlike dogs, there are no leash laws for cats in Arizona. It is estimated that there are more than 200,000 outdoor cats in Maricopa County. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the most humane and effective approach for controlling outdoor cat populations. Learn more at somanycats.org.

When researching where to board your pets, be sure to ask friends and family for recommendations, search online reviews and then visit the facility and ask for a tour. If they are unwilling to show you the facility, that could be a red flag. In addition, ask what their protocols are should your pet become sick or injured while in their care.

Puppy mills are dog breeding “factories” that put profits ahead of dog welfare. Unfortunately, while there are many responsible and professional breeders, the reality is that puppy mills are still very common. Even pet stores have long been one of the biggest sources of puppy mill puppies.

Learn more about this topic on our Adopting vs. Buying page.

If you notice any signs of animal cruelty taking place, please report it immediately.