On January 1, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began collecting information about crimes involving animal cruelty from law enforcement agencies that participate in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS is the United States’ primary database for collecting and archiving crime data. Animal cruelty is defined by the FBI as “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly taking an action that mistreats or kills any animal without just cause, such as torturing, tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, or abandonment.” It is classified as a “crime against society” with four different types of animal cruelty being distinguished: (1) simple/gross neglect, (2) intentional abuse and torture, (3) organized abuse/animal fighting, and (4) animal sexual abuse.