Animal Abuse and

Prevention
By: Iryna Saray
Mr. Copeland
Senior Project
Spring 20!
Saray
Iryna Saray
Mr. Copeland
Senior Project
Spring 20!
Animals are in many "ays t#e same as #uman beings. $#ey need love and compassion%
especially pets suc# as cats and dogs. $#eir cute &aces ma'e people #appy. (n&ortunately% animals get
neglected and just simply le&t alone due to various reasons. Animal abuse is a serious issue t#at can
lead to more atrocious acts. $#an'&ully% t#ere are organi)ations to #elp t#ese animals in need and la"s
to protect t#em. $o prevent animal abuse all animal and pet o"ners s#ould 'no" t#e proper "ays to
care &or t#eir pets. Be&ore learning "ays to care &or animals properly it*s important to understand "#at
animal abuse is and "#at it leads too.
(s #umans #ave a desire &or love and companions#ip. As +obbie a &ello" volunteer said , no
one "ants to be lonely% t#at*s "#y "e #ave pets.- $#e "ay t#e dogs% puppies% 'ittens and cats loo' at
t#e strangers "al'ing past t#em% is a longing to be a part o& t#eir lives and t#ey ma'e t#ese-"#ining-
noises% its almost as a cry. $#ese animals #ave &eelings and t#eir cutesy &aces ma'e our moods better.
Animal cruelty can be eit#er deliberate abuse or simply t#e &ailure to ta'e care o& an animal.
.it#er "ay% and "#et#er t#e animal is a pet% a &arm animal% or "ildli&e% t#e victim can su&&er terribly.
(humanesociety.org) $#ere are di&&erent &orms o& animal abuse and animal cruelty. ./eglect is not
giving an animal t#e rig#t &ood% "ater% s#elter or vet care. Because t#eir misery goes on &or so long%
animals "#o die o& neglect can su&&er just as muc# as animals "#o are #armed on purpose. Inade0uate
s#elter% especially in e1treme #eat or cold temperatures% can be deadly to pets. Anot#er type o& cruelty
is #oarding. A person "#o 'eeps &ar more animals t#an t#ey can properly care &or is a #oarder.
2#umanesociety.org3 It4s been estimated t#at t#ere are 500 to 2%000 ne" cases every year o& animal
#oarding in t#e (S% "it# a 0uarter o& a million animals &alling victim. (dosomething.org) Abandonment
is a big issue "it#in t#e topic o& animal abuse. A startling number o& animals die every year "#en
people move out o& t#eir residences and simply leave t#e animals be#ind. Sometimes% an abandoned
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dog*s bar'ing or cat*s #o"ling can alert t#e neig#bors% but it*s "ise to 'eep an eye on a recently vacated
#ome% especially i& t#e &ormer residents moved suddenly. 2#umanesociety.org3 It can be very upsetting
to see someone beating or p#ysically attac'ing an animal% but it*s important not to turn a"ay. $#ese
animals depend on #umans in t#ese situations. .ven improperly c#ained dogs can be victims o& animal
cruelty. C#ained dogs "#o are tet#ered continuously su&&er tremendously% bot# &rom social isolation
and e1posure to predators and t#e elements surrounding t#em. Animal cruelty itsel& is a #orrible action
but its been proven t#e oppressor on animals aren*t only oppressors on t#e animals. (peta.org)
A survey o& psyc#iatric patients "#o #ad repeatedly tortured dogs and cats &ound t#at all o&
t#em #ad #ig# levels o& aggression to"ard people as "ell. $o researc#ers% a &ascination "it# cruelty to
animals is a red &lag in t#e bac'grounds o& serial 'illers and rapists. According to t#e 6BI4s +essler%
,$#ese are t#e 'ids "#o never learned it4s "rong to po'e out a puppy4s eyes. (peta.org) As "ell as
adults committing t#ese crimes c#ildren are learning at a young age too. C#ildren "#o abuse animals
may be repeating a lesson learned at #ome7 li'e t#eir parents% t#ey are reacting to anger or &rustration
"it# violence. 2peta.org) $#e deadly violence t#at #as s#attered sc#ools in recent years #as% in most
cases% begun "it# cruelty to animals. ,Murderers 8 very o&ten start out by 'illing and torturing
animals as 'ids%- says +obert 9. +essler% "#o developed pro&iles o& serial 'illers &or t#e 6ederal Bureau
o& Investigation. Animal abuse can lead to more serious issues and problems t#ats "#y its important to
#ave regulations and &ines &or t#is crime.
6ourtyseven states currently #ave &elony provisions &or animal cruelty. 2$#ose "it#out are
Ida#o% /ort# :a'ota% and Sout# :a'ota.3 .Alt#oug# t#ere is no national reporting system &or animal
abuse% media reports suggest t#at it is common in rural and urban areas. Cruelty and neglect can also
cross socio;economic boundaries. Cross socio;economic means no "#ater #o" "ealt#y or #o"ever
poor someone t#ey #ave t#e same c#ances o& commiting animal abuse to"rds animals. People "it#
emotional problems may beat% s#oot% or stab animals or set t#em on &ire. $#ose "#o abuse animals are
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very li'ely to be violent to ot#er people even t#eir o"n &amily too. Sc#ools% parents% communities% and
courts are beginning to reali)e t#at s#rugging o&& cruelty to animals as a ,minor- crime is li'e ignoring
a tic'ing time bomb. Some courts no" aggressively penali)e animal abusers% e1amine &amilies &or
ot#er signs o& violence% and order perpetrators to undergo psyc#ological evaluations and counseling.
2peta.org3 $#is is a step in t#e rig#t direction to prevent crimes and being able to tell "#o is more li'ely
to commit more serious crimes. In order to prevent animal abuse "e #ave la"s and organi)ations in
place to #elp.
Be&ore 5=>% only &our states #ad &elony animal cruelty la"s. $#an'&ully no" its !? states. Its
important to understand animals #ave rig#ts. Animal rig#ts is t#e idea t#at some or all non#uman
animals are entitled to t#e possession o& t#eir o"n lives% and t#at t#eir most basic interests @ suc# as an
interest in not su&&ering @ s#ould be a&&orded t#e same consideration as t#e similar interests o& #uman
beings. Advocates oppose t#e assignment o& moral value and &undamental protections on t#e basis o&
species members#ip alone @ an idea 'no"n since 5?0 as speciesism% "#en t#e term "as coined by
+ic#ard :. +yder @ arguing t#at it is a prejudice as irrational as any ot#er. $#ey agree &or t#e most part
t#at animals s#ould no longer be vie"ed as property% or used as &ood% clot#ing% researc# subjects% or
entertainment 2dosomet#ing.org3 $o sum up animal rig#ts is a beli& t#at t#e animal s#ouldnt su&&er and
its not our c#oise "#at #appends to t#e animal. 6or years% "e #ave been told t#at t#ere is no ot#er "ay.
Ae #ave been told t#at t#is 'illing is t#e irresponsible public*s &ault. Ae #ave been told t#at s#elters%
t#roug# no &ault o& t#eir o"n% are merely per&orming t#e public*s dirty "or'% "it# s'ill% compassion%
and dedication. But% t#e trut# is t#at not#ing could be &urt#er &rom t#e trut#. 2no'ill#ouston.org3
Bo"ever% a la" is only as good as its en&orcement% and t#at*s "#y animals rely on you to protect t#em
by reporting animal abuse.
:og&ig#ting became prevalent in t#e (.S. a&ter t#e Civil Aar% "it# pro&essional pits
proli&erating in t#e =>0s. And "as a source o& entertainment &or police o&&icers and &iremen.
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:og&ig#ting is a &elony in all C0 states. 2#umanesociety.org3 $oday dog&ig#ting #as been reported in
urban% suburban% and rural settings in all regions o& t#e country. $#is is your community. Dou #ave a
rig#t to demand t#at animals in your community s#elters are saved. 2no'ill#ouston.org3
An animal s#elter is a &acility t#at #ouses #omeless% lost% or abandoned animals7 primarily a
large variety o& dogs and cats. Many s#elters temperament test animals be&ore t#ey are put up &or
adoption to determine i& t#e animal is adoptable and% i& so% "#at t#e appropriate #ome environment
"ould be. About #al& o& all dogs sent to animal s#elters are eut#ani)ed 2c#angesomet#ing.org3
Bo"ever% in t#e (nited States% many government run animal s#elters operate in conditions t#at are &ar
&rom t#e ideal &or t#e animals. 2bigmamaeart#acade.my.org3 Enly 0 percent o& t#e animals
received by s#elters #ave been spayed or neutered. Everpopulation% due to o"ners letting t#eir pets
accidentally or intentionally reproduce% sees millions o& t#ese ,e1cess- animals 'illed annually. Its
important to obibe by regulations to 'eep s#elters less overpopulated. As"ell as dogs and cats ot#er
animals are victims o& animal cruelty.
Most rodeo events rely on creating a stress&ul environment &or t#e domesticated and o&ten
docile animals involved. Participants o&ten rely on #ars# #andling practices 2suc# as t"isting calves4
tails or pain&ul electric s#oc's3 to ma'e animals run &aster or buc' #arder.2dosomet#ing.org3 As "ell as
rodeos circus #ave similar enviroments. .very major circus t#at uses animals #as been cited &or
violating t#e minimal standards o& care set by t#e (nited States Animal Ael&are 2AAA3. And "#en
violations are reported most cases never ma'e it to trial% but i& you "ant to ensure justice &or t#e
abused% you s#ould be "illing to give your testimony in court in order to bolster t#e case. $#e
"itnessers voice is crusial. $#an'&ully in t#e (nited States t#ere are &ines and regulations to protect our
pets.
Any animal t#at is in a person*s possession is t#e subject o& larceny. 2beu&ort.org3 A person "#o
o"ns% possesses% or trains a dog "it# t#e intent t#at t#e dog be used in a n e1#ibition &eaturing t#e
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&ig#ting or baiting o& t#at dog is guilty o& a Class B &elony. Any person being t#e o"ner or possessor%
or #aving c#arge or custody o& an animal% "#o "ill&ully and "it#out justi&iable e1cuse abandons t#e
animal is guilty o& a misdemeanor punis#able by a &ine o& up to &ine #undred dollars 2FC003 and
imprisonment &or up to si1 mont#s. As"ell i& any person s#all "ill&ully overdrive% overload% "ound%
injure% torture% torment% deprive o& necessary sustenance% cruelly beat% needlessly mutilate or 'ill or
cause or procure any use&ul beast% &o"l or animal% every suc# o&&ender s#all &or every suc# o&&ense be
guilty o& a misdemeanor punis#able by a &ine o& up to one t#ousand dollars 2F%0003 and imprisonment
&or up to one year. .ven t#oug# "e #ave punis#ments &or animal cruelty and organi)ations to protect
our animals7 Its important to 'no" t#e proper "ays tocare &or our animals.
Proper animal care is e1tremly essential because ><G o& (S #ouse#olds o"n a pet.
2#umanesociety.org3 $#e most popular #ouse pets are dogs and cats and t#e care &or eac# o& t#em can
be very &amilier and di&&erent in some aspects. 6or bot# cats and dogs c#ec' ups are important just li'e
you #ave to go to t#e doctor &or regular c#ec';ups to ma'e sure you are #ealt#y% be sure to bring your
&riend to t#e vet &or a c#ec';up as "ell. Since t#ey can*t tal'% sometimes it ta'es an e1pert loo' to &ind
out i& t#ey are "ell or not. Its important to spend time "it# your pet. Het t#em 'no" you love t#em%
and t#ey "ill be sure to love you bac'% plus give it a treat sometimes% t#ey "ill love you i& you do t#at.
2bigmamaeart#acade.my.org3
Some o& t#e basic tas's include ma'eing sure your &urry I&amily memberI #as a &ood t#at suits
t#eir nutritional needs. 6or dogs you ma'e sure to cut #isJ#er nails every t"o mont#s or so. As"ell I&
you #ave a dog ta'e t#em on "al's.It "ill give you and #erJ#im e1ercise. $#is also acts as bonding
time bet"een you and t#em% allo"ing you to be come closer toget#er. E"ning a pet #as bene&its &or t#e
person and t#e dogJpet too. 6or dogs playtime is essential to 'eep t#em sociali)ed.2Din3 :ogs are
"onder&ul companions t#eir love and devotion are legendary and unconditional. 2Bro"nie3 Caring &or a
young puppy re0uires endless patience% but can be delig#t&ully re"arding7 But you #ave to be"are t#e
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inclination o& all puppies to c#e" any available objects. $#ere are also guidelines to &ollo" "#enever
training a puppy or a dog.
Ene dangerous side a&&ect is t#at punis#ment can cause aggression in dogs. $#e &orce or
punis#ment must be strong enoug# to suppress t#e be#avior completely or it "ill be repeated again.
As"el as desipline% ot#ers t#ings to pay attetion to include ma'ng sure to cut #isJ#er nails every t"o
mont#s or so. And also c#ocolate is also poisonous to bot# cats and dogs. So people #ave to be care&ul
in ma'ing sure pets 2cats and dogs3 dont come in contact "it# c#ocolate. :ogs are also capable o&
being taug#t tric's. Ait# patience and understanding you can teac# any old dog ne" tric's% depending
on "#at you are trying to teac#% or un;teac# t#e dog% "#ic# is usually more di&&icult. :ogs can learn at
any age% and li'e #umans% it4s just old #abits t#at are #ard to brea'. 6or some people it is an easy
un#esitating decision to adopt a ne" &urry &riend. Many pet;o"ners li'e to treat t#eir pets as i& t#ey
"ere a part o& t#e &amily. $#is all is based on t#e love and compassion people #ave &or pets% &or t#ose
"#o see not muc# di&&erence bet"een #uman being and animal. A#en c#ildren &ollo" t#e rules and act
accordingly t#ey4re usually re"arded "it# a treat% t#e same concept "or's "it# animals% pet;o"ners
use t#e re"ard system to teac# obedience. Some o"ners li'e to dress up t#eir animals% create social
net"or's &or t#em% &eed t#em #uman &ood% and ot#er people;li'e actions. Ae see animals as a &riends%
especially "#en "e4re e1posed to t#e loving &riends#ip o& a puppy or 'itten as a c#ild. It is arguable
t#at animals are Kpeople4 too and s#ould be treated li'e t#at. Cats arent so good "it# being taug#t tric's.
Cat &amilies usually play best in even numbers. Cats and 'ittens s#ould be ac0uired in pairs
"#enever possible. Dou s#ould tal' to your cat o&ten. Cats love to #ear t#e sound o& t#eir o"n name
and your voice. 2animalleague.org3 A cat "ill almost never meo" at anot#er cat. Cats use t#is sound &or
#umans. A cat uses its "#is'ers as &eelers to determine i& a space is too small to s0uee)e t#roug#% A cat
is a smart pet. Lust an intresting &act about 'ittens is t#att#ey all all born "it# blue eyes. Animal care is
important so people can 'eep t#eir pets #ealty and proper pet care also prevents animal abuse.
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$o sum up% most o& americans #ave pets and t#is ma'es proper animal care important &or many
resons. Americans need to decrece si)e in animal s#elters. $o do t#is t#ey need to nueture t#eir pets so
un"anted pet birt#s don*t acur. $#is "ill 'eep s#elters not so over populated. As"ell "#enever a person
gets a c#ance and "ants to o"n a pet t#e person s#ould adopt over going to t#e pet store to buy animals
t#ere. $#ese pets deserve a second c#ance in a loving #ome.
(nited States #as organi)ations &or t#e abused animals suc# as t#e animal s#elter and (S also
#as la"s to protect animals &rom being abused. Ha"s suc# as protecting t#em &rom being stolen or
injured. $#e only best "ay to protect t#ese animals is t#e community to spee' out "#enever a animal
abuse case apears.
Proper pet care ta'es time% and pet o"ners be&ore purc#asing a pet s#ould all be a"a'e o& t#is.
Cats and dogs bot# "ant love and compainos#ip. People "it# time to give love to t#eir pets are t#e
people t#at s#ould o"n a pet. And most importantly ta'e good care o& our ,&urry &riends.-
Aor's Cited:
$#e Bumane Society o& t#e (nited States : $#e Bumane Society o& t#e (nited States.I RSS. /.p.% n.d.
Aeb. C May 20!.
IPets : $#e Bumane Society o& t#e (nited States.I RSS. /.p.% n.d. Aeb. C May 20!.
ILoin 2.C Million Doung People.I DoSomething.org. /.p.% n.d. Aeb. < May 20!
IBo" to $a'e Care o& Dour Pet.I WikiHow. /.p.% n.d. Aeb. > May 20!.
Din% Sop#ia A. Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behaior !odi"ication o" Dogs # $ats% &echni'ues
"or Deeloping (atients Who Loe &heir )isits. :avis% CA: Cattle:og Pub.% 2005. Print.
Bro"nlie% Serena. An Introduction to :og Care. Secaucus% /L: C#art"ell% 5==. Print.
IBo" /E$ to Mive.I $hanging &he (resent. /.p.% n.d. Aeb. > May 20!.
ICompanion Animals.I (*&+. /.p.% n.d. Aeb. > May 20!.