Animal cruelty, also known as animal abuse, is far reaching and prevalent in every city and country around the globe. Every day, everywhere, humans inflict harm and mistreat animals for various and multifaceted reasons. Some cause suffering intentionally because they enjoy it. Others abuse animals through their carelessness, often without even realizing.
The number of people and organizations researching and gathering information about animal cruelty is continuing to grow rapidly. Without facts, comparisons and specific detail, there is no case to answer; we will continue to be blind to the horrors that take place. Many activists, organizations, authors, scientists, lawyers and even politicians have joined forces; generously dedicating time, money and even their life to help the fight against animal cruelty.
Thanks to the accumulation of research and continuing education, people are becoming more aware of animal sentiment and how they suffer.
Types of Animal Cruelty
Animal cruelty can be either passive or active.
A person can be cruel passively or inactively simply by omitting to take some form of action. For example allowing a dog to starve or failing to alleviate pain to an injured or ill animal.
Active cruelty requires committing an act which inflicts pain such as cutting off a limb, stabbing, choking or punching.
Whether an act of cruelty is unlawful depends on where it happened. Each country and its distinct states adopt their own animal cruelty laws.
Companion Animals
Pets create enormous business. According to the latest 2007 edition of the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Source book, households in the U.S. owned more than 72 million companion dogs and almost 82 million pet cats. The sheer number of pets makes this industry and its participants easily prone to abuse.
Before the animal even gets into the home of a pet owner, it or their parent or relative has very likely been subject to abuse. Most cats and dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills, which keep animals caged up for continued reproduction. The exotic pet trade is another culprit, smuggling birds, snakes and even monkeys in tiny suitcases where they remain for dreadfully long periods. They are deprived of water, food, light and adequate ventilation. Many end up dying or developing neurotic behaviors due to the stress.
If they make it into the family home, they are subject to the treatment of their new owner. Luckily, many people adore their furry and feathery friends. However, too many also abuse their power over these creatures. After the novelty wears off, owners abuse, neglect or abandon the animal. Many are also surrendered to authorities for adoption or euthanasia.
The Family Pet and Domestic Violence
Many despicable and vile acts of cruelty happen right under our noses in the family home. Perpetrators of domestic violence often use the family pet to intimidate the spouse. The spouse is often too afraid to escape in fear of leaving the animal’s fate in the hands of the abuser. There is a link between children victims of domestic abuse and violence against animals. To alleviate the feeling of helplessness, abused children try to gain authority by committing similar acts to animals.
Why do people abuse animals?
The motives and causes behind animal cruelty are complex and varied. Here are some common reasons why people commit such shameful acts:
• Emotional & communication barriers between humans and animals
• Ignorance
• Personal gain & pleasure
• Believing abuse is justified
• Lack of empathy
• Animals suffer in silence
• They are defenseless, making an easy target
• Little or no consequences for perpetrators
• Traditions, customs or rituals
• Desire to assert power or authority
Why we shouldn’t abuse animals
Animals have been placed on this earth alongside and with humans. Due to our intellect, we ended up being the dominant species. We have learned to use animals to make our lives easier and more pleasurable. We use them for food, clothing, transport, protection, entertainment and companionship. In return, humane treatment is the least we can provide.
What’s being done?
There’s a rapid and widespread movement for the protection of animals from cruelty. People are angry and have developed a voice for the defenseless. Organizations such as PETA, ASPCA, NAVS and IDA gather evidence, facts and statistics about all forms of animal cruelty to educate others. Most of these organizations don’t acquire government funding.
Governments and industry try to make it difficult to expose animal cruelty. In countries such as Australia, animal abuse awareness groups such as voiceless.org can’t even accept tax deductible donations. Despite these continued efforts to trump knowledge, animal cruelty is being exposed on an ever-increasing scale through charities, non-for profit organizations and the Internet.
