How to Report Animal Cruelty in Arizona: What You Need to Know

Animal cruelty happens more often than most people realize, and knowing what to do when you see it can make the difference between an animal suffering in silence and getting the help it needs. Arizona takes these cases seriously, and the state gives you clear, accessible ways to act.

Whether you’ve spotted a dog left in a sweltering car, witnessed a neighbor neglecting livestock, or suspect something more serious, this guide walks you through every step — from recognizing abuse to understanding the penalties abusers face under Arizona’s animal cruelty laws.

What Counts as Animal Cruelty in Arizona

Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2910 is the primary law governing animal cruelty in the state. Under this statute, a person commits cruelty to animals if they do any of a defined set of prohibited acts. The law covers a broader range of conduct than many people expect.

Prohibited acts include intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly subjecting any animal under a person’s custody or control to cruel neglect or abandonment; failing to provide medical attention necessary to prevent protracted suffering; inflicting unnecessary physical injury to any animal; and recklessly subjecting any animal to cruel mistreatment.

“Cruel mistreatment” means torturing or otherwise inflicting unnecessary serious physical injury upon an animal, or killing an animal in a manner that causes protracted suffering. “Cruel neglect” means failing to provide an animal with necessary food, water, or shelter.

Under ARS § 13-2910(A)(7), leaving an animal confined in a vehicle under conditions likely to cause injury or death is also considered cruelty. Arizona’s high temperatures make this a common and dangerous offense. You do not need to wait for an animal to be physically harmed — the law explicitly covers leaving an animal unattended and confined in a motor vehicle where physical injury or death is likely to result, meaning no actual harm needs to occur for a charge to arise.

Under Arizona law, “animal” is defined as a mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian. Exclusions include hunting and agricultural activities conducted in accordance with Arizona laws and regulations. Animal fighting is addressed separately: intentionally attending a dogfight is a felony, whereas attendance at a cockfight is a misdemeanor.

Important Note: Arizona law does not consider it cruelty to expose poison to a dog that has killed or wounded livestock, provided the property is properly posted with warning notices. Always consult local law enforcement if you are unsure whether a specific act qualifies as cruelty.

Who Can Report Animal Cruelty in Arizona

Anyone who witnesses or suspects animal abuse in Arizona can — and should — make a report. You do not need to be a professional, a neighbor of the victim, or a direct witness to file a complaint. When you witness an act of animal cruelty, go to the nearest phone and call 911. It is important to report the crime quickly and from the area where the crime occurred.

Witness accounts are vital when investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty. If you see something, please stay and talk to the police. Even if you are not certain abuse is occurring, reporting your concerns to the appropriate agency allows trained investigators to make that determination.

You can also report anonymously. If you have information about an unsolved felony animal cruelty case, you can call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377). You can remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward.

Pro Tip: Before making a report, document what you observed — note the date, time, location, a description of the animal, and the name or address of the owner if known. This information significantly strengthens an investigation.

Who Is Required to Report Animal Cruelty in Arizona

While any member of the public may report suspected abuse, Arizona law places a specific mandatory reporting obligation on veterinarians. A veterinarian who reasonably suspects or believes that an animal has been a victim of abuse, cruelty, or neglect, or has been involved in animal fighting, must report that suspicion to law enforcement within 48 hours after treatment or examination. The report must include the breed and description of the animal and the name and address of the owner or person who sought the examination or treatment.

A veterinarian must also report, in writing, suspected cases of abuse of livestock to the associate director of the division of animal services in the Arizona Department of Agriculture. A veterinarian who files a report as provided in this section is immune from civil liability with respect to any report made in good faith.

Veterinary records must be provided to local law enforcement on request in furtherance of any criminal investigation for abuse, cruelty, neglect, or animal fighting. This means that if law enforcement is already investigating a case, a veterinarian cannot withhold records that could support the prosecution.

Beyond veterinarians, no other profession in Arizona carries a statutory mandatory reporting requirement for animal cruelty at the state level — but that does not reduce the moral and civic weight of reporting. Animal cruelty is often a red flag for other forms of violence, making community reporting especially important. You can read how other states handle mandatory reporting by comparing Colorado’s animal cruelty laws or California’s animal cruelty laws.

How to Report Animal Cruelty in Arizona

The right agency to contact depends on where you are in the state and what type of animal is involved. Arizona does not have a single statewide hotline for all animal cruelty reports — instead, a network of local law enforcement agencies, animal control departments, and nonprofit investigators handles these cases.

For Emergencies and Active Abuse

If you witness an animal being beaten, attacked, or harmed in any way, immediately call 911. In Arizona, only law enforcement can seize an animal and arrest an animal cruelty suspect. Do not attempt to intervene physically or remove the animal yourself, as interfering with the scene or an animal may make it difficult to prosecute a case.

Reporting in Maricopa County

If you suspect a pet is being mistreated in the Phoenix metro area, contact the Arizona Humane Society’s Field Dispatch team at 602-997-7585, ext. 2073 (available daily, 8 AM–6 PM). AHS partners with 12 Valley cities to investigate animal cruelty and neglect cases in conjunction with local police departments.

You can also complete the Report Animal Cruelty form on the Arizona Humane Society’s website, and their Animal Cruelty Investigators will get to work. For unincorporated areas of Maricopa County, contact the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Unit at 602-876-1011. For livestock investigations, contact the Arizona Department of Agriculture at 602-712-8396.

Reporting in Pima County and Tucson

In Pima County, you can contact the Pima County Animal Care Center at 520-724-5900, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for unincorporated areas at 520-351-4900, or the Animal Cruelty Task Force of Southern Arizona Tip Line at 520-547-0260. The Pima County Attorney also maintains a tipline at 520-882-7463.

Reporting Livestock Cruelty Statewide

To report suspected livestock cruelty, contact the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Dispatch at (623) 445-0281 or your local law enforcement. That agency only has jurisdiction over livestock, which includes equine, cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. For complaints regarding dogs, cats, or birds, contact your local animal control agency.

Anonymous Tips

Animal cruelty may also be reported to Silent Witness at 480-948-6377. Anyone with information about a felony animal abuse case anywhere in Maricopa County can call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. This option is especially useful if you are concerned about retaliation or prefer not to be identified.

Pro Tip: If your first report does not produce results, escalate to a supervisor at the responding agency. You can also contact your local city council member, district attorney, or the media if you believe a case is not being addressed.

What Happens After You Report in Arizona

Once you file a report, the investigation process begins — though the specific steps depend on which agency responds and the nature of the case.

Officers and inspectors respond to calls with a site visit and contact with the owner. The agency determines the best course of action depending on the specific issues related to the case. While many cases are resolved with education, cases where animals’ lives are in imminent danger may result in seizure of those animals.

Arizona Humane Society Emergency Animal Medical Technicians (EAMTs) work closely with local law enforcement and play a key role in investigations of suspected cruelty and neglect. EAMTs are not officers of the law, but AHS is contracted to conduct animal cruelty investigations within certain cities. Their team is trained in state and local animal cruelty laws, crime scene investigations and photography, evidence collection, suspect and witness statements, and on-scene medical evaluations.

When an animal is seized, the process is governed by ARS § 13-4281. A peace officer, county enforcement agent, or animal control officer who lawfully seizes an animal must affix a notice of seizure in a conspicuous place where the animal was found, or personally deliver the notice to the owner or keeper of the animal. The owner is warned that if they fail to post a bond within ten days after the seizure, the animal will be deemed abandoned and become the property of the seizing agency.

If the owner requests a post-seizure hearing, a justice of the peace or city magistrate must set a hearing date within 15 business days. At the hearing, the seizing agency must establish by a preponderance of evidence that the animal was subjected to cruel mistreatment, cruel neglect, or abandonment. On that finding, the court may terminate the owner’s rights in the animal and transfer those rights to the seizing agency or a designated animal care agency.

After animals are removed from an abusive situation, they typically receive veterinary care and are placed with a shelter or rescue organization. The Arizona Humane Society assists in investigations involving cruelty to animals and takes custody of animals seized in welfare situations, picking up and transporting animals at the request of officers and providing medical treatment as necessary.

Cases involving serious charges move to prosecution. Animal Cruelty Investigators play a key role in investigations, frequently providing expert testimony in court hearings, and trauma hospital veterinarians often join them to provide expert medical testimony. For context on how prosecution unfolds in neighboring states, see our guides on animal cruelty laws in New Mexico and animal cruelty laws in Texas.

Penalties for Animal Cruelty in Arizona

ARS 13-2910 is the Arizona statute that defines the crime of animal cruelty. Depending on the facts of a case, a prosecutor can charge a violation as either a Class 5 felony, punishable by up to two years and six months in state prison; a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison; or a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.

Misdemeanor Penalties

Under ARS § 13-2910, a person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for neglect or abandonment without providing adequate care, failure to provide medical attention leading to suffering, and inflicting unnecessary injury to an animal. A Class 1 misdemeanor carries up to six months in jail, $2,500 in fines, and probation.

Felony Penalties

For more severe cases, animal cruelty escalates to felony charges: severe neglect or abandonment causing serious harm is a Class 6 felony; cruel mistreatment involving extreme pain or torture is a Class 6 felony; harming or killing a service animal intentionally is a Class 6 felony; organized animal fighting such as dogfighting is a Class 5 felony; and killing a domestic animal without justification is a Class 5 felony.

A Class 6 felony carries 0.33 to 2 years in prison for first offenders, and up to 2.75 years for repeat offenders. A Class 5 felony carries 0.5 to 2.5 years in prison, and up to 7.5 years for repeat offenders. A Class 6 felony also carries a maximum fine of $150,000 and leads to a loss of civil rights including the right to bear arms. Prior felony convictions lead to harsher penalties.

Additional Consequences

In Arizona, individuals convicted of animal cruelty may face restrictions on owning or caring for animals. According to Arizona Revised Statutes 13-2910, any person found guilty of torturing, mutilating, or killing an animal may be prohibited by the court from owning or caring for animals. The court may also require the individual to undergo psychological evaluation and treatment as a condition of probation.

Repeated offenses or extreme cases of animal cruelty may result in permanent bans on animal ownership. A person found guilty of cruelty to animals under state law or a local ordinance may also be sentenced to pay damages to the owner of the animal.

Classification	Examples	Jail / Prison	Maximum Fine
Class 1 Misdemeanor	Neglect, abandonment, leaving animal in hot car	Up to 6 months	$2,500
Class 6 Felony	Severe neglect causing serious injury, harming a service animal	0.33–2 years (first offense)	$150,000
Class 5 Felony	Dogfighting, killing a domestic animal without justification	0.5–2.5 years (first offense)	$150,000

Arizona’s penalty framework reflects the state’s recognition that animal abuse is not a minor offense. Egregious cruelty cases charged as a Class 5 felony cannot be plea bargained down to a misdemeanor, ensuring that the most serious abusers face meaningful consequences. For comparison, see how other states structure their penalties in our guides on Georgia, Ohio, and North Carolina.

If you suspect animal cruelty is happening in your community, do not wait. Contact the appropriate agency for your area, document what you have observed, and let trained investigators take it from there. Reporting is one of the most direct ways you can protect animals — and potentially prevent broader harm in your neighborhood. For a deeper look at the state’s full legal framework, review our overview of animal cruelty laws in Arizona or explore how Illinois and Washington handle similar protections.