| Animal abuse or animal cruelty refers to ill treatment | | | | FBI, for one, states that a history of animal abuse is |
| or substandard care that result in needless harm, | | | | a recurring trait in profiles of murderers and serial |
| distress, or suffering. Standards of animal abuse laws, | | | | rapists. |
| implementation, and tolerance vary across the US. So | | | | Furthermore, studies have shown that children who |
| conditions that constitute abuse are decided on a | | | | are animal abusers are often victims of abuse |
| case-to-case basis. | | | | themselves or have, at least, seen abuse committed |
| For example, at least five issues have caused divided | | | | against a member of their family. |
| opinions among the American public. | | | | The US Humane Society released findings from two |
| 1. Fur Farming | | | | studies to this effect: Around a third of families |
| 2. Factory Farming | | | | experiencing domestic violence had one child at least |
| 3. Animal testing of cosmetic products | | | | who'd hurt/killed a pet. |
| 4. Medical research using animal subjects | | | | How Cruelty Is Dealt With in the US |
| 5. Using animals (especially wild animals) in a rodeo or | | | | Anyone involved in animal care and training in the US |
| circus | | | | should check out the cornerstone legislation, Cruelty |
| Practices that are considered cruel in other countries, | | | | to Animals Act. The law focuses on minimum (rather |
| which are tolerated in the US, include tail docking, ear | | | | than optimum) care requirements, such as: |
| cropping, and the Geier Hitch (using a rope through a | | | | 1. Food, water, and shelter |
| nose ring to herd livestock). | | | | 2. Medical care |
| Welfare Vs. Rights | | | | 3. Outlawing torture or inhumane killing |
| Perhaps one reason for the divided opinion of the | | | | Animal advocacy groups and pet lovers decry the |
| American public over issues of what constitutes | | | | law's ineffectiveness or silence on practices at |
| cruelty is the fact that two active animal advocacy | | | | circuses and rodeos and the treatment of animals |
| movements have responded differently to the | | | | considered pests. Moreover, that enforcement across |
| question. | | | | the US is lamentably inconsistent. |
| Animal welfare advocates say that using animals for | | | | But some states take animal abuse more seriously |
| human gain may sometimes be justified. But they aim | | | | than others. In New York, for instance, humane |
| to work at both improving treatment and ending | | | | society representatives are appointed by the state |
| unwarranted suffering. | | | | to enforce laws against animal cruelty. Another state |
| On the other hand, animal rights advocates believe | | | | with a similar policy is Massachusetts. |
| that an animal has rights just like a human being. That | | | | The US is also home to two of the most active |
| is, each animal has a right NOT to be used for human | | | | animal advocacy groups in the world: |
| gain. They work at stopping humans from handling | | | | - The Humane Society of the United States |
| animals like commodities. | | | | - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals |
| Psychological Implications | | | | As penalties for animal abuse are minor, the best |
| As mentioned, animal abuse has far-reaching | | | | thing animal lovers can hope for is that once cases of |
| implications on the state of mind of the abuser. The | | | | cruelty are exposed the abuse will end. |