3825 Proper Street
Corinth, MS 38834
(662) 284-9787
Last Updated:
09/02/2010 10:45 AM © 2010 CACHS
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Cruelty and Abuse
The Corinth - Alcorn County Humane Society and local authorities are dedicated to stopping violence against animals.
If you witness an act of animal cruelty or if you have any information regarding cruelty incidents, please call the Alconr County Sheriff's Office.
If you see a crime in progress call 911.
Your report could make the difference of life or death for the animal. Please provide the following information when you call: - The nature of the abuse.
- A description of the animal, as detailed as possible. Include the species, color, age, gender, name, unusual identifying marks, and any other important identifying information.
- The precise location of the animal. Include the street address, location of the animal on the property (inside, backyard, etc.), and a description of the property and any buildings on it (in rural areas – trees, outbuildings, etc. In urban areas – the color of the house, etc.).
- Name, address, phone numbers, vehicle description and license plate, physical description (as detailed as possible) of the suspect.
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers of witnesses.
How to be a Good Witness
Since animals can’t speak to tell us what happened to them, we rely on human witnesses to provide us with necessary information. Your actions as a witness can help make a solid case for education, intervention, or enforcement action to protect the animals. Follow these guidelines to be the most effective witness possible: - Pay attention to important details, such as license plates, addresses, and suspect descriptions.
- Report your complaint as soon as possible. The sooner we can begin a case, the better our chances (and the animal’s) for success.
- Don’t place yourself, or the animal, in danger. Provoking the suspect can cause injury to you, or retribution to the animal.
- Don’t break any laws to gather information or intervene.
- Be willing to testify, identify suspects, or participate in the prosecution of a case, if needed. Your eyewitness statements can be the key to whether a case can be pursued.
- Be patient. The investigative and legal processes can take what seems to be a long time. However, it is critical that we do the job right the first time, and some information may be difficult to obtain. We pursue every case as vigorously as possible.
Animal Cruelty & Human Violence
Abuse and neglect of living creatures do not occur in a vacuum. Often, if there are animals at risk in a home setting, people are at risk there as well. Acts of abuse are about power and control, regardless of the species of the victim. When a violent offender physically lashes out, any living being may become a victim. It isn’t important to the abuser if the victim has two legs or four. Children are common victims of abuse because they are so vulnerable. For this reason, humane officers and animal control officers are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Sometimes children abuse animals as a way of coming to terms with their own victimization. Whenever a child is seen mistreating an animal the incident should be reported immediately to the the local authorities. Sometimes young adults, particularly teenage boys, engage in extremely cruel and tortuous acts against animals. These instances should never be dismissed as "high jinks" or with a "boys will be boys" attitude. Adolescent cruelty to animals is so serious, the American Psychiatric Association recognizes it as a symptom of conduct disorder. Virtually every serial killer, and most habitual violent offenders, began by torturing and killing animals. Well-known cases of school shootings were perpetrated by boys with histories of animal abuse. Animals are used as leverage by abusers to gain compliance and silence from their victims. Victims of domestic violence may refuse to leave their abuser for fear of what will happen to the animals they are forced to leave behind (emergency shelters do not take animals). Children who are beaten or molested may be told that if they reveal their abuse, their beloved pets would be harmed. Sometimes children may even be forced by the abuser to witness, or even participate in, animal abuse. Frail elders and the developmentally disabled may be victimized as well. Dependent on others for their care, they are vulnerable at the hands of abusive perpetrators. Their situation may be as risky as their pet’s. The Humane Society is concerned about violence against any victim, regardless of species. While we are limited in our enforcement actions to protecting animals, we seriously advocate for human victims in the home as well. We believe that by addressing violence or abuse in all aspects, we can help create a safer society for humans and animals alike.
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