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As hard as it is to talk about, imagine how difficult it is to live with. Thousands of animals are abused daily, the highest majority of them being dogs. It is a problem that crosses all socio-economic factors, and is widespread in both rural and urban areas. The sad thing is, most of these cases continue on with no one noticing or no one speaking up. State and local governments have animal cruelty laws in place, and 47 of the states have felony charges for cases of animal cruelty.
Victims of domestic violence often report the abuser targeted the family pet as well. With over 2 million people being the victims of domestic violence each year, that is also a lot of violence directed at innocent animals. While laws and statutes keep improving with tougher sentencing, the problem still lies with abusers who continue to abuse with no repercussions since no one turns them in.
How You Can Help to Fight Animal Cruelty
Animal cruelty will continue unless more people are made aware of the problem and want to do something about it. If you notice someone hurting an animal or see something that may not seem right, make sure to contact local authorities. Many will let you report anonymously, so you don’t need to worry about the person confronting you. Begin to pay attention to the animals in your neighborhood and how they are treated. Do you see a dog on a chain that never gets let off to run or is never taken for a walk? While this doesn’t constitute abuse in many areas, it is something to pay attention to. People who don’t care for their animals tend to neglect them and mistreat them, and it can take many forms.
Even if you don’t see abuse, there are ways to help. Laws are generally put in place because citizens speak up about what is important to them. Contact your local and state representatives to express your concern about animal cruelty and how much tougher you think the laws should be for your state. Familiarize yourself with what laws are in place and go from there. Don’t be afraid to call and write letters, as this is how many laws begin.
If you have the financial means available, you can donate to organizations that fight for animal rights. You could also donate to shelters or sanctuaries which help animals that have come from abusive situations. If money is an issue, many shelters welcome volunteers to help with care for the animals.
It is also important to discuss animal cruelty with your family, friends and neighbors. Talk about how prevalent it is and how they can help to stop it. It is also important to teach children from a young age how to properly treat animals. Lessons learned in childhood often follow a person into adulthood.
As a society, we have been making great strides when it comes to animal cruelty and legislation, although there is more work to be done. When you become an active participant, you are helping animals not just in your area, but around the country.