Updated July 2008

Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force

Addressing Animal Cruelty in Vermont

Response to complaints of animal cruelty and neglect is coordinated by county throughout the state of Vermont thanks to the Vermont Humane Federation’s Cruelty Response System Project. If you are concerned about an animal, the following agencies will be able to get your complaint into the right hands for investigation:

County                         

Addison - Addison County Humane Society, (802) 388-1100

Bennington - Second Chance Animal Center, (802) 375-2898

Caledonia - St. Johnsbury Police Department, (802) 748-2315

Chittenden - Humane Society of Chittenden County, (802) 862-0135

*City of Burlington Only - Burlington Police Department, (802) 658-2700

Essex - P.E.T.S. of the Kingdom, (802) 754-6530

Franklin- Franklin County Humane Society, (802) 524-9650

Grand Isle - Humane Society of Chittenden County, (802) 862-0135

Lamoille - North Country Animal League, (802) 888-5065

Orange - Central Vermont Humane Society, (802) 476-3811

Orleans - P.E.T.S. of the Kingdom, (802) 754-6530

Rutland - Rutland County Humane Society, (802) 483-6700

Washington -Central Vermont Humane Society, (802) 476-3811

Windham - Windham County Humane Society, (802) 254-2232

Windsor - Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, (802) 484-5829

   

The following toll-free number will be kept up to date on lead agencies serving Vermont Counties. This toll free line also offers information about spay/neuter and wildlife resources: 1- 877-9-HUMANE.

To file an animal cruelty complaint online, visit:

http//www.ReportAnimalCruelty.com

  

To learn about Vermont’s Animal Cruelty Laws, please click here:

http://www.vactf.org/manual/chap7/title_13.php

     

To learn about the Vermont Humane Federation’s Cruelty Response System project, please click here:

http://www.vermonthumane.org/cruelty.php

 For more information on animal cruelty in Vermont, please click here to download a brochure from the Vermont Humane Federation.

 

Important law for veterinarians

Title 26: Chapter 44 Veterinary Medicine; § 2404.

Immunity from liability for reporting suspected cases of animal cruelty.

(a) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action for damages shall arise against, a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state who, in good faith and in the normal course of practice, reports suspected cases of cruelty to animals, as defined in sections 352 and 352a of Title 13, to any humane officer or officer as defined in subdivision 351(4) of Title 13 or local board of health officer or agent.

(b) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action for damages against, a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state who accompanies a humane officer during the execution of a warrant pursuant to section 354 of Title 13, or evaluates the health of and provides medical attention to, including a decision for euthanasia, an animal brought to that veterinarian for health assessment, pursuant to section 354.

(c) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action for damages against, a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state who inspects premises or orders a quarantine pursuant to section 3682 or 3683 of Title 20. (Added 2003, No. 60, § 12.)