This is our research about laws, our partner organizations and how to tell if your dog is depressed.

Research Information + Sources: 
Unintentional animal cruelty, could mean an animal has been denied the basic necessities of care, including food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.  https://candocanines.org/
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Effects of dog abuse  There is normally two types of animal cruelty: passive and active.
Passive Cruelty Definition of passion means allowing others to do whatever. Passive cruelty occurs when an animal is neglected, rather than being the victim of violent or direct abuse.  An example is the inadequate grooming of a dog, leading to discomfort, matting, or skin conditions. Another is leaving an animal outside, without shelter, to endure extreme weather conditions.
Active Cruelty Definition of active: engaging or ready to engage in physical energetic pursuits. Active cruelty occurs when an animal is deliberately abused with the intent of harming that animal; for example, hitting an animal for not obeying a command, or forcing dogs to engage in dogfighting. Though companion animals often endure cruelty on a daily basis, both passive and active cruelty is rampant in the industries that use animals for food, entertainment, experimentation, fur, and more—as if they are nothing but products.
Types of Animal Cruelty Testing Around the world, animals are confined in the barren metal cages of laboratories where they are used in experimentation. Despite overwhelming evidence that it does not reliably prove the safety and efficacy of products for humans, anything from cosmetics to drugs and vaccines are tested on animals. 
In fact, in the US alone, over 100 million animals are forced to endure being tested on each year.
On these millions of unwilling subjects—more than 100 million per year in the U.S. alone—products from cosmetics to drugs and vaccines are tested, despite overwhelming evidence that testing on animals does not reliably prove the safety and efficacy of products in humans. 
These tests really are an example of animal cruelty. Some animals have  substances rubbed onto their skin or chemicals poured directly into their eyes, just so researchers can see if they have a reaction.
Neglect Domesticated animals, from dogs and cats to sheep and horses, have become dependent upon humans through centuries of breeding. Though it is different from active cruelty, neglect by an animal’s caretaker can result in just as much pain and suffering for that animal. 
Neglect occurs when an animal is not provided with some, or any of, the care they need, including veterinary attention, food, water, or shelter.
Signs in body language dogs are being abused
Tucked tail, flinches at human contact. Unexplained fractures or limping. Unprovoked aggression, whining, or whimpering. Overly submissive (rolling onto back, tail tucked, urinating) Suddenly avoiding any physical contact. Attempts to bite or scratch when petted. Sources; https://www.ovrs.com


LAWS OF DOG ABUSE Torture. No person shall overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat, neglect, or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill any animal, or cruelly work any animal when it is unfit for labor, whether it belongs to that person or to another person.
Nourishment; shelter. No person shall deprive any animal over which the person has charge or control of necessary food, water, or shelter.
Enclosure. No person shall keep any cow or other animal in any enclosure without providing wholesome exercise and change of air.
Low feed. No person shall feed any cow on food which produces impure or unwholesome milk.
Abandonment. No person shall abandon any animal.
Temporary abandonment. No person shall allow any maimed, sick, infirm, or disabled animal to lie in any street, road, or other public place for more than three hours after receiving notice of the animal's condition.
Cruelty. No person shall willfully instigate or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal or animals, or any act tending to produce cruelty to animals.
Caging. No person shall cage any animal for public display purposes unless the display cage is constructed of solid material on three sides to protect the caged animal from the elements and unless the horizontal dimension of each side of the cage is at least four times the length of the caged animal. The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, the Minnesota State Fair, or to the county agricultural societies, county fairs, to any agricultural display of caged animals by any political subdivision of the state of Minnesota, or to district, regional or national educational livestock or poultry exhibitions. The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to captive wildlife, the exhibition of which is regulated by section
Source; https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/343.21

“Animal Cruelty Laws in Minnesota Minnesota outlaws animal cruelty and abandonment. The state also sets standards for the proper care of dogs, cats, birds, and other pets.By E.A. Gjelten, Legal Editor Updated: Mar 29th, 2022 Cruelty to animals is illegal in Minnesota, as it is across the country. The state’s animal protection laws cover a range of animals (from livestock to service dogs) and behaviors (from euthanasia methods to greased pig contests). Below, we’ve summarized the most important laws that pet owners and animal lovers should know about.
Because states can change their laws at any time, it’s always a good idea to check the current statutes by using this search tool. Also, local municipalities may have their own regulations on dogs and other pets. Check with your city’s animal control department for information about these local rules. Animal Cruelty or Abandonment
It’s a crime in Minnesota to abuse an animal in various ways, including:
torturing, overworking, or beating an animal cruelly injuring, mutilating, or killing an animal without justification abandoning an animal (which includes leaving an injured or disabled animal in a public place for more than three hours), or depriving an animal under your care of necessary food, water, or shelter. Animal cruelty is a felony if the abuser seriously injured a pet in order to intimidate or threaten another person. Animal cruelty is generally treated as a misdemeanor, but it can rise to a felony if:
the abuse led to the animal’s death or great bodily harm the abuse led to serious injury to a service animal, or the abuser seriously injured a pet in order to intimidate or threaten another person.
 A person convicted of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor faces up to a year in jail and $3,000 in fines. Felony penalties range from two to four years' prison time and fines up to $10,000.
(Minn. Stat. § 343.21.)
Proper Pet Care
Minnesota has a set of laws, known as the “Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act,” that require pet owners to take proper care of their animals. The laws set out standards for care that are specific to dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and pet horses. In general, owners must provide their pets with:
enough food to meet the animals’ nutritional needs enough clean water, and appropriate exercise. If the pet is caged or confined, the owner must meet standards for the amount of room, ventilation, temperature control, sanitation, shade, and light. The laws also include requirements for safely transporting pets. Anyone who violates these requirements may 

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