State profile
Massachusetts
194 animal cruelty offenses were reported in Massachusetts in 2025, or 2.7 per 100,000 residents served by NIBRS agencies, the 47th 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 | 4 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 45 |
| 2019 | 93 |
| 2020 | 119 |
| 2021 | 209 |
| 2022 | 202 |
| 2023 | 184 |
| 2024 | 231 |
| 2025 | 194 |
| Year | Offenses | Per 100,000 | Clearance rate | Coverage | Agencies in FBI tables | Agencies with cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 194 | 2.72 | 29% | 99.8% | 392 | 55 |
| 2024 | 231 | 3.25 | 27% | 99.7% | 394 | 60 |
| 2023 | 184 | 2.64 | 23% | 99.7% | 382 | 54 |
| 2022 | 202 | 2.90 | 30% | 99.6% | 378 | 59 |
| 2021 | 209 | 3.00 | 24% | 99.6% | 368 | 55 |
| 2020 | 119 | 1.74 | 24% | 99.1% | 322 | 33 |
| 2019 | 93 | 1.50 | 32% | 90.0% | — | — |
| 2018 | 45 | 0.75 | 36% | 87.1% | — | — |
| 2017 | 19 | 0.32 | 53% | 87.1% | — | — |
| 2016 | 4 | 0.07 | 50% | 86.7% | — | — |
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 | New Bedford Police Department MA0031100 | City police | Bristol | 46 | 293 | |
| 2 | Boston Police Department MA0130100 | City police | Suffolk | 41 | 193 | |
| 3 | Springfield Police Department MA0071800 | City police | Hampden | 22 | 99 | |
| 4 | Attleboro Police Department MA0030200 | City police | Bristol | 4 | 24 | |
| 5 | Quincy Police Department MA0112000 | City police | Norfolk | 4 | 22 | |
| 6 | Fall River Police Department MA0030800 | City police | Bristol | 4 | 21 | |
| 7 | Dedham Police Department MA0110700 | City police | Norfolk | 4 | 4 | |
| 8 | Lowell Police Department MA0092600 | City police | Middlesex | 3 | 29 | |
| 9 | Salem Police Department MA0052800 | City police | Essex | 3 | 15 | |
| 10 | Taunton Police Department MA0031900 | City police | Bristol | 3 | 9 | |
| 11 | Everett Police Department MA0091700 | City police | Middlesex | 3 | 8 | |
| 12 | Randolph Police Department MA0112100 | City police | Norfolk | 3 | 8 | |
| 13 | Mendon Police Department MA0142700 | City police | Worcester | 3 | 6 | |
| 14 | Uxbridge Police Department MA0145200 | City police | Worcester | 3 | 3 | |
| 15 | Barnstable Police Department MA0010100 | City police | Barnstable | 2 | 11 |
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 Massachusetts. Know of one? Tell us.
IROPO links to these registries and does not copy their listings.
Agency directory
The FBI lists 423 law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts, 414 of which report through NIBRS.
Browse Massachusetts agencies