Video analytics to detect animal abuse

A method for detecting animal abuse in a video analytics system comprising a controller coupled to receive video data from at least one camera, the controller comprising at least one hardware processor coupled to at least one tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the controller to perform computer processes comprising:

• processing successive video frames to identify object boundaries in each of the successive video frames and to identify objects of interest including at least human body parts in the video frames based on the object boundaries including at least one of an arm, a leg, a torso, or a head;
• creating mathematical models of such objects;
• analyzing movements of such objects across the plurality of successive video frames to determine at least one of speed or directional motion of the body parts;
• determining mathematically and objectively whether or not the speed and/or directional motion of the body parts meet predetermined criteria for possible abuse of an animal;
• and
• when an instance of possible animal abuse is detected, outputting information identifying the instance of possible animal abuse via a user interface.