| State |
Persons Required to Report Suspected Animal Abuse |
Reporting Allowed/Encouraged |
Immunity Clause |
Other |
| Arizona |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Arkansas |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians or a person acting at the direction of a licensed veterinarian |
|
| California |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Colorado |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Florida |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Georgia |
|
Licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician having reasonable cause to believe that an animal has been subjected to animal cruelty may make a report. |
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or any person participating in the making of a report |
|
| Idaho |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Illinois |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Indiana |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting for veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians |
|
| Kansas |
|
|
|
Failure to report cruel or inhumane treatment to an animal constitutes grounds for disciplinary action against a veterinarian if the veterinarian has direct knowledge of such treatment. |
| Maine |
Veterinarians must report instances of aggravated animal cruelty. |
Veterinarians may report instances of animal cruelty or neglect. |
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Maryland |
|
Veterinarians are encouraged to report suspected instances of animal cruelty. |
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Massachusetts |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Michigan |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting for veterinarians and veterinary technicians |
|
| Minnesota |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
|
|
| Mississippi |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Nebraska |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians and veterinary technicians |
|
| Nevada |
|
|
|
A person may report an act of cruelty against an animal to any peace officer, officer of a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or animal control officer.
Reports are confidential, and no information concerning the report may be released except for the purposes of a criminal investigation or prosecution. |
| New Hampshire |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| New York |
|
Veterinarian may report suspected incidents of animal cruelty. |
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| North Carolina |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Oklahoma |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Oregon |
Veterinarians must report instances of aggravated animal cruelty. |
Veterinarians may report instances of animal cruelty or neglect. |
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians and veterinary technicians |
|
| Pennsylvania |
Veterinarians must report repeated acts of negligence or animal abuse by a professional colleague. |
|
|
|
| Rhode Island |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Texas |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Utah |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Vermont |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| Virginia |
|
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians |
|
| West Virginia |
Licensed veterinarian |
|
Civil immunity for good faith reporting by veterinarians or any other person making a report |
|
| Wisconsin |
Veterinarian must report only when he or she has reason to believe that an animal has been in a fight. |
|
|
|
= AVMA/SAVMA Members Only
