Types of Cases
Most of the cases we see are not animal abuse per se, but rather ignorance of pet owners. That's why education is such an important part of an Inspector's work. A lot of the time, people buy pets on impulse. They see the cute animal in the pet shop and take him home without finding out exactly what the animal's needs are. For example, they do not feed their pets a proper diet, the housing they provide may be inadequate, or they keep their animals in poor living conditions. Still, these are fairly easy cases to solve, as most owners are willing to listen and make the necessary changes.
What is harder to deal with are owners who have very fixed mindsets about animals. They believe that there is nothing wrong with caging or tying up dogs and cats for the whole day. They also think that in order to discipline a dog, you should beat them. It is a great challenge to change the mindsets of these owners and we do not always succeed. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of the job.
Nature of Work
Each case begins with a house visit to see the animals and speak with the owner. Observation and communication skills are vital in order to get a clear picture of each case, and we need to establish all facts in minimal time. Only then can we decide on the next course of action. Complainants and owners are interviewed and the right questions have to be asked. It helps to have "people skills" as naturally, some people do not like to be accused of mistreating their animals.
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