Animal Abuse: What it is and why we need to stop it

Paige
Jul 31, 2024
5 min read

Animal Abuse

Animal abuse is widespread across the world. Millions of animals around the world face abuse. Globally 1 animal is abused every 60 seconds. 10 million animals a year die from animal abuse, neglect, or cruelty every year in the United States. Over 16,000 dogs die a year from dogfighting in the United States. Per year, 250,00 animals in the United States are victims of hoarding.

Animal abuse is prevalent. It is a vague term that encompasses many different things.

The four main types of animal abuse are neglect, hoarding, forced fighting, and physical abuse.

Neglect

Those who neglect animals do not provide necessary food and water or humane shelter for their pets or livestock. Animals that are neglected often live tethered in a small space or confined to a cage. In many large factory farms livestock animals are neglected as they live in restrictive environments. For example, chickens used for meat and eggs in factory farms are often kept in “battery cages” that are the size of a standard piece of paper. Domesticated pets, such as dogs who are neglected often are kept outside on chains, with a lack of food and water.

Hoarding

Those who are animal hoarders own more animals than they can properly care for. Animals who are victims of hoarding live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions that can breed disease. Those who hoard animals grow unhealthy attachments to animals, so much so that they take in more animals than they can care for. Animal hoarding can be linked to various mental conditions such as trauma and OCD.

Forced Fighting

The forced fighting of animals is used for entertainment, gambling, and profit. Of the many animals forced to fight, rooster fights and dog fights are the most common.

Dogfights

Dogs who are coerced to fight spend most of their time on short, heavy chains outside. They are often given steroids and other drugs to enhance muscle and aggressiveness. Before fights owners of dogs who are a part of organized fights force their dogs to run miles on treadmills as strength training for fights. Dogfights can occur in formal arenas (pits) or even in alleyways or parking lots. Dogfights often end when one dog is so badly injured that he or she can no longer fight. Dogfighting is illegal in all 50 states of the US as it is cruel to dogs and often harbors illegal gambling and drug/weapon trade.

Rooster fights

The forced fighting of roosters (cockfights) occurs all around the world. Like dog fights, roosters who fight are often given steroids and other drugs to boost muscle mass and adrenaline.

In traditional cockfights, the fighting roosters have long, sharp steel blades (gaffs) tied to their legs to increase the likelihood of injury to their opponent. Most cockfights result in one, or both birds not surviving. If they do survive, roosters are usually left with broken bones, punctured lungs, and other serious injuries.

Similarly to dogfights, cockfights are places where cartels and gangs distribute drugs and illegal weapons. Illegal gambling is most common at cockfights.

Physical abuse

Those who physically abuse animals deliberately inflict harm. There are many types of physical animal abuse such as kicking, choking, beating, throwing, suffocating, stabbing, and intentional killing. Animals who are physically abused endure mass amounts of pain and sometimes do not survive. Those who abuse animals often abuse or kill humans later on.

Why does animal abuse need to be stopped?

The abuse of animals (neglect, hoarding, forced fighting, and separate physical abuse) must be stopped. The abuse of animals is cruel, it deprives the animal of a happy, safe, and free life. Animals who are abused do not have a voice to defend themselves and need our help to stop their suffering.

In addition to that, animal abuse leads to other crimes. As explained before, organized animal fights are places where illegal gambling and illegal drug and weapon trade often occur.

In addition to this, those who abuse animals often later commit other crimes, especially those who kill and torture animals. Studies show, 70% of all animal abusers have committed 1 or more other crimes against humans. According to the New York State Humane Association, and other studies, 95% of serial killers abused animals, 60% of aggravated assaulters abused animals and 70% of violent inmates repeatedly abused animals as children.

Violent criminals who abuse and kill humans often start out abusing animals. Well-known serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer (17 victims) and Albert DeSalvo (13 victims) started out killing and abusing animals in their youth. If their animal abuse was stopped and discouraged when they were young adults, then lives could have been saved, this goes for many other serial killers and criminals.

There is a clear connection between abuse of humans and abuse of animals.

By stopping animal abuse of all forms, you would stop many other crimes before they happen (illegal gambling, drug trading, illegal weapon trading, assault, and murder.) Stopping the inhumane abuse of animals benefits animals and humans alike.

How can you stop animal abuse?

Animal abuse is a problem that cannot be stopped overnight, but every small action can save an animal from pain and suffering.

To stop animal abuse you can do many different things such as…

Petition for stricter laws against animal abuse

By petitioning for stricter laws against animal abuse in your country, state, city or even the world, you will enable more animal abusers to face consequences for their actions. Laws against animal abuse prevent animals from being abused, crimes against humans and creates a safer and empathetic society.

Donate to charities

Many charities combat different kinds of animal abuse on domesticated and wild animals such as…

The Humane Society of the United States and the international branch (Humane Society International) help animals in many different ways including, rescuing dogs from cruel breeders and hoarders, petitioning for laws that help animals, training law enforcement on investigating cases of animal abuse, and rewarding the public for information leading to cock/dogfights as well as providing animal care to animals injured in organized fights.

SPCAs. SPCAs are organizations that rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome pets such as cats, dogs, small mammals, farm animals, and even wildlife. SPCA stands for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. There are various SPCA organizations around the world such as the RSPCA in the UK, the ASPCA in The United States, and SPCA International. Donating to SPCAs helps animals who come from abusive situations.

Report Abuse

Animal abuse is a criminal act. If you see or suspect someone is abusing an animal, reporting them is a great way to help animals and prevent other crimes.

How do I report abuse?

Call the police or a local no-kill animal shelter. If your location lacks animal welfare laws and authorities aren’t equipped to deal with animal abuse situations, contact a nonprofit agency, such as SPCAs for your location, or the Humane Society (of the US or International).

Anonymous reporting: When you call the police, no-kill shelters, or nonprofits, you can request to report anonymously.

Attempt to get pictures or videos of the animal abuse happening. Pictures or videos can be used as evidence in charging the animal abuser with a criminal offense.

Even if you do not have a picture or video evidence, authorities will still be able to investigate and charge the abuser with an offense.

Conclusion

Overall, animal abuse is a terrible action that must be stopped. You can do a lot to stop animal abuse; by doing this you will save countless animals, prevent other crimes, and create a safer city, state, country, and world!

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