ANIMAL CRUELTYBy Taryn Parker

WHAT IS ANIMAL CRUELTY?

“Animal cruelty can be either deliberate abuse or simply the failure to take care of an animal. Either way, and whether the animal is a pet, a farm animal, or wildlife, the victim can suffer terribly.” – Humane Society

WHAT IS CONSIDERED ABUSE/NEGLECT?

Physical abuse

Beatings

Shooting

Stabbing

Setting on fire

Starvation

Mental abuse

Isolation

Abandonment

Taunting

Over pressuring (excessive pressure to achieve)

WHO DOES THIS?

Some abusers started out as victims. They may have been attacked by an animal at a young age and never learned to empathize with animals.

According to the FBI, many people who are serial killers, started out abusing animals before they started killing humans.

People who abuse animals, usually have family problems that involve abuse to his/her family.

DOG FIGHTING

Many animals that attack people and have a vicious manner, are victims of dog fighting. These dogs are trained to fight other dogs by being pinned up by heavy chains, starved, and beaten.

PUPPY MILLS

Puppy mills are dog breeding facilities that put profits ahead of the welfare of dogs. They don't care about filth, disease, socialization, overcrowding. They don't care about inbreeding or genetic defects. They don't care about who adopts the puppies or about wearing out the breeding moms.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE ANIMAL CRUELTY

• Hoarding

-when a person has too many animals than they can care for.

-their house may be full of animals and animal filth

Lack of Veterinary Care

-wounds left untreated, scabs, and hair loss are signs of possible diseases.

Inadequate Shelter

- extreme heat and cold can be deadly for pets

HOW TO RECOGNIZE CON’T

Chained dogs

-dogs who are chained for the majority of the time suffer from social isolation and exposure to weather and other predators.

Direct violence

-beating or physically attacking an animal

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

You can call your local law enforcement or animal control. Every state in the US has laws that protect animals from cruelty.

ADOPT, DON’T SHOP

There are thousands of dogs and cats that have to be put down every year because they couldn’t find a “forever home”. Many of these animals are never given a second chance to prove that they can be your best friend. There are animal shelters located all over the US with innocent animals ready for new homes!

REFERENCES

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/

 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-dogs-go-heaven/201204/emotional-pain-in-animals-invisible-world-hurt

 

http://www.paws.org/human-violence-connection.html

 

http://people.howstuffworks.com/dogfighting3.htm

 

www.sfspca.org/adoptions/realities-puppy-mills