Every state defines animal cruelty differently, both in terms of the specific actions that are prohibited and the categories of animals that are protected. For example, hunting is exempted from animal cruelty laws and livestock are not protected, even though in both cases the animals are killed and quite often suffer. Laws in some states protect wild animals from frivolous harm e.
Animal cruelty cases tend to span the jurisdictions of several state and local agencies and departments, and the agency officially responsible for handling animal cruelty cases varies. Some jurisdictions have sophisticated programs within animal welfare organizations e.
They may be called animal cruelty enforcement agents, humane law enforcement agents, cruelty investigators, or animal control officers, and while they may have the legal authority to investigate and enforce animal cruelty laws, the public often grants them less legitimacy than police.
In places without local animal welfare organizations, police may be solely responsible for enforcing all animal-protection laws. The intense public reaction to animal cruelty cases covered by the media suggests that the public is concerned about the treatment of animals and believes animal cruelty to be a social problem worthy of police attention. While some cases will be arduous, involving lengthy investigations, search warrants, and complex crime scenes, most cases of animal cruelty are not particularly complicated.
Particularly in cases of simple neglect, police who identify the signs of animal cruelty can offer information, suggestions for improving animal care, or warnings, which will usually rectify the situation before a serious tragedy occurs. While specialized training is desirable, particularly for complicated hoarding cases or cases of physical abuse that will be prosecuted, most police officers need only a basic familiarity with animals' health and normal states of being to identify the warning signs of animal cruelty.
These signs may include the following: 7. National crime-reporting systems do not monitor animal cruelty. Doing so would be very difficult, because enforcement authority is scattered across thousands of state and local agencies, laws vary across states, and standardized reporting structures have not been developed.
The two major efforts to collect data on the prevalence of animal mistreatment rely primarily on media reports, rather than enforcement records, as the source.
It discontinued the project because of excessive demands on staff Lockwood While the website includes a search engine and crime-mapping capabilities, it includes only those cases with a media reference or that proceeded to court. As of April 18, , the database included over 17, cases in six countries.
Despite the lack of national data, most researchers agree that cases of neglect constitute the vast majority of animal cruelty cases. As a result, the public may not fully understand the prevalence and nature of animal cruelty.
The most obvious harm caused by animal cruelty is the pain and suffering endured by the animal. In contrast to what is often presented by the media, happy endings in cases of physical cruelty are rare: the abuse is often ghastly and victim animals are rarely returned to good health or adopted by a loving family.
In addition to the animal suffering inflicted in even the least sensational cases, the more complicated hoarding cases also generate significant public health concerns. Homes of hoarders are generally filthy, with an accumulation of animal feces and urine on the floor, sometimes several inches deep. The resulting ammonia gas creates toxic air. Utilities and major appliances usually do not work, and most of the basic activities for a functional and sanitary household e.
Carcasses of dead animals are often found in hoarding locations, many of which are eventually condemned. While animal cruelty is a serious social problem in its own right, interest in its association with other forms of violence has motivated a great deal of research. Groups of researchers in both the United States and the United Kingdom assert that people who harm or kill animals are at high risk of interpersonal violence.
Further, they claim that victims of child abuse are likely to harm animals and are more likely to be violent toward humans as they mature. They are entirely dependent on their owner to both understand and provide for all their needs. If these needs are not met either through neglect or poor understanding of their needs, they can suffer both physically and psychologically experiencing pain, anxiety and fear. There is a clear link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to humans. This grim correlation is seen throughout history, in violent crimes and in everyday life.
For example, some of the most violent serial killers are known to have tortured animals as children and then later as adults to go on to commit violent crimes against humans. It has also been found that children who are cruel to animals have often witnessed or been victims of abuse themselves. Portuguese law dictates a prohibition on unnecessary violence against animals, abandonment, purchasing an injured or sick animal for any purpose other than healing it, among other activities.
Legislative Decree No. All fifty states and the federal government have laws that allow for animal cruelty to be prosecuted as a felony.
Felonies are considered the most serious class of crimes in the United States. The PACT Act provides for the prosecution of those that perform certain cruel acts such as crushing, burning, or suffocating animals to be tried for a felony.
In the state of Florida , animal cruelty that results in the death or repeated harm of an animal is considered a third-degree felony. Adopting pets instead of purchasing helps to ensure that there is space in animal shelters for pets that may be the victims of cruelty.
In addition, it helps by not contributing to the cruelty of puppy mills. By donating time, money, and other resources to animal shelters you can help to increase the number of animals that rescues are able to help.
Perhaps the most effective method of cutting down cruelty is making sure that the next generation of pet owners, kids, know how to treat animals and provide them with proper care.
Looking for cruelty-free products and eating a more plant-based diet helps reduce animal cruelty by limiting the number of animals suffering in labs for the production of cosmetics or on factory farms for food. To report animal cruelty seen online you can file a report with the Internet Crime Complain Center. You can report to the center whether you live within the US or abroad, as long as the suspected abuser resides within the United States.
There are two primary resources available for reporting animal cruelty in movies and on television. Animal cruelty can be reported to the local authorities. Within the United States, most communities have an animal-specific arm of law enforcement to whom the local police can direct you. Before contacting the authorities, however, consider reaching out to a local shelter or animal hospital to discuss the situation to see what they suggest are the best next steps.
Understanding animal cruelty is one of the first steps to stopping it from occurring. By being aware of what is happening in your community, donating your time or other resources, being cognizant of the products you purchase and making sure that the children in your life know proper animal care, you can help stop animal suffering. Grace is an animal advocate with a passion for social justice within the animal protection movement.
What Is Animal Cruelty? Who Abuses Animals?
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