CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS

Although we are not a law enforcement agency, the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT’s) Cruelty Investigators are on standby to assist authorities with investigating and documenting reports of animal cruelty and neglect throughout North Texas and surrounding areas.

HSNT's Cruelty Investigations team partners with multiple law enforcement agencies covering the following unincorporated areas within these Texas counties:

Cooke
Hill
Johnson
Wise
Palo Pinto
Tarrant

If you are aware of animal neglect or abuse, please contact your local animal control or law enforcement authority first. If you are reporting an urgent situation, such as an illegal dogfight, please start by calling 9-1-1. After you have contacted local law enforcement, if you still wish to report suspected cruelty, please fill out the Suspected Cruelty Complaint Form below. If you have additional questions, please call 817.332.4768, x113, or email investigations@hsnt.org.

Texas state law has a range of both civil & criminal statutes dedicated to crimes against animals including cruelty to livestock & non-livestock animals, blood sports, and sexual acts. Below is a brief synopsis of said statutes:

Cruelty to livestock & non-livestock animals includes failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter, and care; abandonment; cruel confinement; physical abuse; torture; poisoning; using a live animal as a lure in a dog race; animal fighting; seriously overworking an animal. Penal codes 42.09 & 42.092 explain more.

Bloodsports incorporate both dog and cockfighting. This includes causing either animal to fight with another; participating in the earnings; using any property or equipment; owns or trains either animal; attends as a spectator. Penal codes 42.10 & 42.105 explain more.

Bestiality is at the forefront of sexual crimes against animals. Penal Code 21.09 explains more.