Animal cruelty is a serious issue. It is illegal to beat, torment, hurt, or otherwise harm any animal in any manner. People who cause an animal to suffer pain or discomfort can be charged with a crime. MCACC does not have the legislative authority to enforce animal cruelty laws: therefore we rely on local law enforcement and the Maricopa County Sheriff�s Office to enforce state statutes. Learn more about Arizona's laws against Animal Cruelty.

If you witness or suspect an act of animal cruelty in your community, contact your local police department's non-emergency line. Click here for a list of all police non-emergency phone numbers. On a county island, please call the Maricopa County Sheriff's office at (602) 876-1011.

MCACC is dedicated to raising public awareness about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence and to help communities identify some of the origins of violence, predict its patterns and escalation.

For more information on national programs that focus on the link between animal cruelty and family violence, please visit the Humane Society