Your neighbor’s dog Max is always out, on a chain the back yard. You never see anyone paying attention to him and you feel sorry for him because you’re sure he’s lonely. He’s not alarmingly thin or injured, but his coat is often dirty because he never goes inside, never gets brushed and from what you see never gets more than food and water from his owners.  His little dog house appears sturdy but on cold nights you worry.  Is there some law that can get Max out of this situation?

Unfortunately there is no law that says people have to love their pets.  City ordinances in the metro area require that owners provide proper

• food
• water
• shelter
• medical care

Realize that what the law considers adequate might not be up to your standards.

What Omaha Law says is Cruelty
The following information is paraphrased from Omaha City Ordinance Chapter 6 which deals with all animal related city laws.  For a complete version of chapter 6 click here:

• Physical Abuse. (You can’t beat, torture, or burn animals) It is unlawful for anyone to willfully or maliciously kill, maim, disfigure, torture, beat with a stick, chain or club or other object, mutilate, burn or scald with any substance or cruelly set upon any animal. (*The exception is to drive off vicious or trespassing animals)
• Physical Mistreatment. (You can’t leave an animal in a situation that causes suffering)  It is unlawful for any person to knowingly, intentionally, or negligently cause or allow any animal to endure unreasonable or unjustifiable pain, suffering or injury.
• Witholding or Neglecting Care and Maintenance (You have to provide the basics of food, water, shelter from the elements and proper veterinary care) It is unlawful to refuse, neglect or fail to provide proper food, drink, shade, shelter, physical maintenance, and veterinary care.
• Animals must be provided every 24 hours with nutritionally sound food
• Animals must be provided at all times with clean, fresh, water in a proper dish or tub that can’t be tipped or knocked over by the animal.
• Animals have to have access to shelter year round that is structurally sound and in good repair so it protects them from temperature extremes (both hot and cold.)  The shelter must provide adequate ventilation, and drainage so bedding inside remains reasonably clean, dry and comfortable and keeps the animal from contracting diseases, parasites or injuring itself. Additionally the shelter has to be of a size to allow the animal to enter stand turn around and lie down in a natural manner.
• Animals shall receive care and medical treatment for debilitating injuries, parasites and disease sufficient to maintain the animal in good health and to minimize suffering.
• Animals that must be tied up must wear a collar or harness not of the choker type to attach to the tether.  No animal will have a chain, rope, or cord directly around it’s neck.  The tether cord must be at least 10 feet in length.
• Any enclosure in which an animal is kept has to be constructed of materials and in a manner to minimize the risk of injury.  The animal also needs room to move around.  Dogs confined outside residences are required the following minimum space:

4.  Leaving animals in unattended vehicles. 
(Don’t leave animals in cars or trailers without heat in winter and a-c in the summer)You cannot leave animals unattended in vehicles for periods of time when hot or cold temperatures can endanger their health, or when lack of food water or care can cause them suffering, disability or death. 

5.  Abandonment of animals. 
(You can’t leave animals to fend for themselves)
It’s unlawful to leave an animal for more than 24 hours without making provisions for food water and care.    If an animal is restrained outside without food water or proper care animal control officers may enter the property and supply it with food water and care as long as it remains there.

What if I suspect Dog Fighting? I don’t want to get involved with violent people.
The Nebraska Humane Society has an anonymous Tip Line that not only protects people who report suspected dog fighting—it rewards them if the tips lead to an arrest or conviction! 

• Call 444-7800  (press extension 1)
• Explain that you have a dog fighting tip.
• Leave your tip information with the dispatcher.
• You will be assigned an identification number.
• You will be instructed to call back weekly, and give your i-d number, to see if your tip leads to action.
• If your tip results in an arrest or conviction you are eligible for up to $1000!
• You will be instructed to a Centris Federal Credit Union Location to pick up your reward.

*You do not have to leave your name, but you are rewarded for your compassion!

Worried You’ll get your neighbor in trouble? 
Don’t be!  Many times uneducated pet owners don’t understand the law, or don’t realize what they are doing is unhealthy for their animal.  Animal Control Officers often use these instances as an opportunity to educate an owner. If an animal is not in imminent danger, public safety isn’t threatened, and an owner is willing to work to improve conditions, officers will usually work with the owner to help him or her better understand their responsibilities and provide better pet care.

What if I’m just not sure?
Call anyway.  We get calls every week that don’t meet legal requirements. Nebraska Humane Society Animal Control Officers would rather investigate a hundred situations where animals are ok, than to miss one where an animal is suffering needlessly.