Legal
Rescue reporting terms
These terms apply to every report submitted through this site. They exist so nobody is surprised by what we can and cannot do.
Submitting a report does not guarantee a response.
Doing Big Things is not an emergency service. If an animal or person is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local animal control first, then file a report.
What a report is
A report is information you are sharing so qualified people can decide what to do. It is not a dispatch, a service request with a guaranteed response, or a substitute for calling 911 or animal control.
Triage and routing
Every report is classified by animal type, condition and risk. Some cases will be handled directly, some routed to authorized partners, and some referred to a public agency because law or permitting requires it.
Accuracy
Please report only what you actually observed. A best guess is fine; a false or exaggerated report wastes limited resources and can endanger responders and animals.
Safety limits
Never approach, capture, restrain, feed or transport an animal to complete a report. We would rather have an incomplete report than an injured reporter.
Location data
Coordinates you share are stored privately and used to locate the animal. Exact locations are visible only to trained staff and assigned responders and are never displayed publicly.
Photos
Photos are used for identification, coordination and case documentation. Public or promotional use requires your separate permission, which you can decline without affecting the response.
Contact and follow-up
If you provide contact details, we may reach out for clarification or updates. You may report anonymously, though it can limit what we're able to accomplish.
Private property
We do not enter private property without the owner's permission. If an animal is on property that isn't yours, note it in your report rather than entering.
Legal reporting
Suspected animal cruelty, neglect, bites and rabies exposures may be reported to the appropriate agency. Some of these reports are legally required.
See also our privacy policy and terms of use.