State profile
Delaware
1,439 animal cruelty offenses were reported in Delaware in 2025, or 135.8 per 100,000 residents served by NIBRS agencies, the 1st highest rate of 49 comparable states.
Trend
Reported offenses over time
Lighter bars mark years when NIBRS agencies served less than 60% of residents.
Offenses per year
Monthly offenses
| Year | Total offenses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 924 |
| 2018 | 1,096 |
| 2019 | 1,297 |
| 2020 | 1,155 |
| 2021 | 1,285 |
| 2022 | 1,378 |
| 2023 | 1,659 |
| 2024 | 1,605 |
| 2025 | 1,439 |
| Year | Offenses | Per 100,000 | Clearance rate | Coverage | Agencies in FBI tables | Agencies with cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,439 | 135.77 | 8% | 100.0% | 58 | 9 |
| 2024 | 1,605 | 152.59 | 7% | 100.0% | 58 | 11 |
| 2023 | 1,659 | 160.82 | 6% | 100.0% | 55 | 16 |
| 2022 | 1,378 | 135.51 | 8% | 99.9% | 52 | 13 |
| 2021 | 1,285 | 128.09 | 5% | 100.0% | 53 | 15 |
| 2020 | 1,155 | 117.07 | 4% | 100.0% | 54 | 11 |
| 2019 | 1,297 | 133.30 | 5% | 99.9% | — | — |
| 2018 | 1,096 | 113.36 | 5% | 100.0% | — | — |
| 2017 | 924 | 96.06 | 6% | 100.0% | — | — |
| 2016 | 18 | 1.89 | 61% | 100.0% | — | — |
Source FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), via the Crime Data Explorer. Retrieved September 30, 2026. Methodology & downloads.
Agencies
Agencies reporting the most cases in 2025
| # | Agency | Type | County | 2025 | 2020–2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animal Welfare: New Castle County DE002500X | Other state agency | New Castle | 606 | 3,550 | |
| 2 | Animal Welfare: Sussex County DE003500X | Other state agency | Sussex | 427 | 2,386 | |
| 3 | Animal Welfare: Kent County DE001500X | Other state agency | Kent | 383 | 2,437 | |
| 4 | Dover Police Department DE0010100 | City police | Kent | 9 | 23 | |
| 5 | New Castle County Police Department DE0020300 | County | New Castle | 7 | 26 | |
| 6 | Newark Police Department DE0020500 | City police | New Castle | 3 | 14 | |
| 7 | State Police: Sussex County DE303SP00 | State police | Sussex | 1 | 8 | |
| 8 | Wilmington Police Department DE0020600 | City police | New Castle | 1 | 6 | |
| 9 | Milford Police Department DE0030500 | City police | Kent, Sussex | 1 | 3 |
Source FBI NIBRS Tables: Offense Type by Agency, 2020–2025; ORIs from the FBI agency directory. Retrieved September 30, 2026. Methodology & downloads.
Official animal abuser registries
We are not aware of a government-run animal abuser registry in Delaware. Know of one? Tell us.
IROPO links to these registries and does not copy their listings.
Agency directory
The FBI lists 63 law enforcement agencies in Delaware, 63 of which report through NIBRS.
Browse Delaware agencies