Citizen's Guide to Dog Fighting and Animal Cruelty
   What you should know and how to respond 


Dog fighting and animal abuse are criminal activities and require police intervention. The only agency equipped and trained to properly handle and prosecute incidences of dog fighting and animal abuse is the police department.

 

        Dog Fighting is a felony.
  Call 911 immediately if you know 
            of a fight in progress.		             Animal cruelty is a crime.
    Call 911 immediately if you know
               of an act in progress. 

You may request that your call be anonymous.

You can Act to Help Stop Dog Fighting and Animal Cruelty

  • Contact your alderman and ask him/her to help to actively encourage the Chicago Police Department to increase their efforts against this heinous crime. Click here to find your alderman.
  • Become a court advocate. Sign up to be a court advocate in partnership with CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) and the Chicago Police Department. Court advocates are an integral part in fighting animal violence. Contact Stephanie Packard Bell, CAPS Court Advocacy Coordinator at (312) 747-9983 to learn more.
  • Print out educational materials and get involved in community outreach. 
  • Contact the PAWS Chicago Community Outreach Coordinator if you are interested in working in inner city communities and educating adults and children on the humane treatment of animals. PAWS works directly with the City of Chicago CAPS program. Click here to email the PAWS Chicago Community Outreach Manager.