Animal abuse — where do I report?
On suspected animal abuse: (1) Call 144 (Save an Animal) — free, 7 days/week. Anonymous reporting possible. (2) Immediate danger: 112. (3) Who handles: National Animal Welfare Inspection (LID), NVWA for livestock, police for violence. (4) Applies to: pets, farm animals, horses, wildlife, exotics. (5) What to report: address, time, species, description. Photos/video help (without endangering yourself or animal). (6) Neglect (no food/water, no shelter, emaciated) counts as much as active violence. Keep reporting on recurrence — more reports trigger more oversight.
Step by step
- 1Observe + noteWhere, when, which animal, what you see. Photos/video help — only safely from distance.
- 2Call 144 Save an AnimalFree, 7 days/week. Anonymous possible. Give address + time + description as concretely as possible.
- 3112 for immediate dangerAnimal acutely threatened, violent owner, fire or accident: 112.
- 4Follow operator instructions144 staff assess urgency + refer to LID/police/NVWA. May ask for photos to be sent.
- 5Keep reporting on recurrenceFirst report usually triggers warning. Continued abuse: more reports = more enforcement.
All contacts
Frequently asked questions
Can I report anonymously?
Yes, your name not shared with suspect. Useful to give name for follow-up questions.
What if I'm not sure it's abuse?
144 operator assesses. Better over-report than under — abuse can be subtle (neglect counts equally).
What happens after the report?
LID/police/NVWA investigates. On violation: fine (€500-15,000), keeping ban, possible house search. Severe: animal seized.
Sources
🔎 Common search queries
Recognise your own search? Our answer above covers all of these variants.
- “animal abuse 144 Netherlands”
- “red een dier hotline”
- “anonymous animal cruelty report”
- “NVWA livestock welfare”
- “dierenbescherming report”