Essay on Proposed Solutions to Extreme Cases of Animal Abuse

The mistreatment of animals is a serious problem within our society for a variety of reasons. While current laws and conditions are improving, there is still a

Animal Cruelty is a problem that many ignore. People are oblivious to these animals and the negligence their owners show. Animal cruelty is an underlying problem in today’s society, and the only way to counteract these problems, is for this generation to do something about it.

Animals are beaten and abused on a daily basis due to barbaric individuals. Whether it be from harmful intentions or pure negligence most cases go unreported. “Deliberate cruelty may involve beating, shooting, stabbing animals, or setting them on fire. Neglect is not giving a necessary food, water, shelter, or vet care” (Human Society). The lack of attention and care for these animals can often lead to severe, and sometimes irrevocable damage. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, ALDF for short, website tells of one story where neighbors of a farm complained to the local humane society, “that the Colliers were neglecting many animals on their farm, including dogs and horses. When they went to their property to investigate, they discovered dogs and horses in several states of neglect and starvation and seized them out of concern for their immediate health”(ALDF). Sadly, however, it can become much worse for animals. Owners will sometimes purposefully abuse their animals. Unfortunately, occurrences like these are hardly uncommon. One such example, from the RSPCA of England, the Royal

1. In a study done in 2005 by Christopher Hensley and Suzanne E. Tallichet,  it was discovered that “inmates who were younger when they first witnessed someone hurt or kill animals and those who  witnessed a friend hurt or kill animals were more likely to commit animal cruelty more frequently (Dutkiewicz,Hensley, and Tallichet, 2011).”

Animal abuse is a quiet epidemic that is spreading throughout the world. The amount of animal abuse is growing and we must do something to stop it. Animal abuse is not putting a choke collar on a dog to keep it from biting an individual; it is not killing an animal for food. Animal abuse is the knowing or intentional "(1) tortures or serious overworks [of] an animal"; the "(2) failing unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in his custody; kills, injures, or administers poison to an animal; [or] (6) causes one animal to fight with another" (Title 3). The majority of states in the U.S. classify abusive treatment toward animals as a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is punished by a fine of

Everyday, every second that passes by, animals across the globe are mistreated in their so-called “home”. Stop animal abuse! Abusers of animal are five times as likely to harm humans. Nearly half of the time victims who stay in violent households do so because they are afraid for their own animals. Countless more never leave the home for their very reason. This issue should be further looked into by identifying states with poorly laws against animal abuse, the wrong doing of taking advantage in the use of human resources, and having absolutely no heart in having a friendly companion.

What is animal abuse? For starters, animal abuse is when a person inflicts suffering or harm on any animal. Most people, all over the world own an animal; but there are still far more animals left out on the street. Homeless animals are either left out on the streets or are “thrown” into shelters. This became a problem because not all animals are domesticated. Animal shelters began as pounds. “When the system began to be used to impound wandering dogs and cats, these animals were often killed because little monetary value was placed on them” (Lila Miller, Animal sheltering in the United States: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, 1) . This issue persists because shelter workers and others truly believe that an animal life has no value, but that is not true; animals are living beings just like humans with brains, hearts, and bones. A reported case was that “authorities had seized 23 puppies, 11 cats, and four adult dogs from a self-processed animal “rescue” after they were found in the “rescuer’s” filthy home.” (‘No-Kill’ Label Slowly Killing Animals, 3). This means that an unauthorized person hoarded many animals and forced the animals into an unsafe “shelter”. The shelter being a dirty home.

“It is quite clear that in abusing animals we abuse our relationship with animals, and that we abuse ourselves. We become less human to the extent that we treat any living beings as things” (R.D. Laing). There is a very evident connection between animal cruelty and cruelty to other humans. In studies conducted between 1983 and 2004, 60% of children who met the criteria for child abuse/neglect had families that were cruel to their pets. In 88%

There are two types of animal cruelty, “cruelty can be manifested in two ways: actively and passively. Active behavior includes ‘acts of commission. Passive behavior ‘includes acts of omission and negligence” (Tanner, 2015). Animals are very smart creatures, no matter their size or looks. Animals should not have to suffer from humans acts. Since animals have a failure of speech, they cannot speak for themselves, which means they are helpless to stop being abusively controlled by humans. Everyday animals in the United States and in other countries are abused and, neglected for no particular reason

Every 60 seconds an animal is abused. Dogs, cats, horses, and many other types of animals are being neglected and tortured everyday, yet resulting in few and minor consequences for the perpetrators. Animal abuse is prevalent in the United States and has been an ongoing issue since the 1970's, and prior to. Society as a whole has chosen to avoid the facts and arguments about animal cruelty, because to some it is seen as acceptable and typical. It becomes much more frowned upon when people actually see the results of the cruelty, especially in the media.

The origin of the association between animal abuse and domestic violence remains unclear as do the factors that make the connection. This connection between the cruelties could be better understood in a larger context of the human-animal bond. “The evidence demonstrating the importance of the human-animal bond in human functioning and well-being will make the strong relationship that many battered women have with their pets understandable” (Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty). Animals are a part of the home environment of humans. The bond shared between women and their pets make it possible for abusers to control women by abusing their pets. “The link between animal abuse and women

Animal cruelty is a tremendous issue concerning the United States and has a large link to abuse toward humans. On DoSomething.org (n.d.), they found that “Today animal cruelty has been reported in urban, suburban, and rural settings in all regions of the country” (para. 6). But at the same time, there is animal welfare, which can protect animals when they have been mistreated. Individuals who participate in animal cruelty are more likely to engender harm to humans. In Rescue Ink (2010), found that “70% of animal abusers also have records of other crimes - often violent crimes” (para. 3). In addition to, there is a myriad of research and statistics that emphasizes how several components increase the link between abuse to animals and abuse to humans. The largest components are: households where domestic violence occurs, individuals who become serial killers, and individuals that grew up with a disturbing childhood.

Animals are an important and valued part of many families and cultures. In many households, animals are considered members of the family, receive Christmas and birthday presents, and are cared for just as a human child would be. Opposition to animal cruelty has even become a sort of universal value in American culture(Kordzek 604). But animals are uniquely vulnerable to abuse, and despite this they still do not receive much needed protection from the law. The penalties for animal cruelty are not frequently severe enough to even deter one from harming an animal. This is dangerous not only for animals, but for human beings too. Animal cruelty and domestic violence have been proven to correlate in countless ways, and recognizing animal cruelty as a serious criminal offense and a form of domestic violence would serve to protect both animals and human beings from needless acts of violence. Instituting stiffer criminal penalties for animal cruelty and increasing the protective measures for victims of abuse is necessary to further the protection of both animals and human beings.

Unfortunately today there are many cases of animal abuse happening around the world. Animal cruelty or animal abuse can be defined as the infliction of suffering or harm upon animals for purposes other than self-defense. There are many different types of abuse such as using animals for research, using animals for entertainment purposes, abandoning animals to shelters, and animal neglect. We need to raise awareness and find a solution to these issues. Animals are suffering and we need to help them.

In the last decade, the views and forms of animal cruelty have changed. Many people have different views of an animal’s rights or purpose. Some people believe that animals have no rights and are a piece of property to be utilized by humans. To others, animals can still be used by humans, but they have emotions as well. A few people consider that only certain animals with high intelligence like chimpanzees or monkeys, should not be used by man, and they should have all the rights that man has currently (“Animal Rights” , 2009). Domestic violence has a correlation with animal abuse. In a survey, 71% of domestic violence victims also reported that their abuser also targeted pets/animals. The most common animals who are abused are cats, dogs, horses,