We claim that dog is man's best friend, that cats are such intelligent creatures, that horses are such gentle souls, then can someone please tell me why we abuse these innocent beings? Does that seem a fair way to treat our best friends?
In the U.S., thousands of animals are abused every year. Many of them die from human caused injuries and infections. Those who survive this horrible and unjust treatment often find it rather hard to ever be trusting and loving towards humans.
Whether intended or unintended, animal abuse causes irreversible trauma and emotional imbalance. What most people aren't aware of is that most animal abuse is actually unintended. Meaning that, though the owner loved their animal, for what ever reason they neglected and abused them in some way that they weren't aware.
Unintended abuse usually results from lack of knowledge on how to take care of an animal. Many people buy animals that they have absolutely no knowledge on, and then they end up releasing them into the wild. This not only throws our environment out of whack but it also is dangerous for the animal and humans around that area.
For example if you were to release a deadly snake into the wild because you couldn't take care of it, you are not only endangering any human who may stumble upon it but you are actually putting the snake in danger.
It would also cause a change to the environment that you released the snake into, because you are adding a new predator that may not usually be in that environment, there for causing an imbalance in the predator prey relationship. Another form of unintended abuse is neglect. The online Webster Dictionary defines neglect as “to pay no attention or too little attention to."
This means that though you may love your dog Lucky, if he is left out side in the cold snow and rain, and not given enough water and food, or if Lucky is to get out and injure himself, and you don't make sure that injury is properly attended to, you can be charged with neglect. Abuse on an emotional level, though often unintended, is cruel and unnecessary.
Many owners don't realize that by constantly shouting at an animal, they are causing that animal to grow afraid of them. And sometimes they become afraid of humans in general. Especially with small animals, because they become intimidated much quicker.
That kind of emotional abuse causes them to become terrified of the world around them. The greatest cause of unintended abuse is financial downfall.
Currently our economy is going through a financial crisis, and that is having huge affect on everyone including our beloved pets. You see when a family generates a lack of income, they come to the point where they must make a choice, between buying dog food or paying the electric bill.
Many times it really isn't a choice, they pay the electric bill. In this process, the once so well loved family dog is now a burden. So many times families move and leave their pets behind because they can't afford to take them along.
All of this is abuse, even if it is unintended.
With unintended abusers I can understand, sometimes it isn't avoidable or they were completely unaware, but what really gets me are those people who abuse animals just for the heck of it! Just to prove they've got power.
I mean what does that really prove? Honestly, all it says is that you can bully innocent creatures. Is that something you want to be proud of? People like this are known to abandon their animals.
To just up and move, and leave their pets caged with no food. Many domestic animals die in result of actions like these, and those who are lucky enough to be rescued in time come out emotionally scarred. One of the cruelest ways that humans abuse animals is physically. Which can be anything from being kicked, or beaten, to being starved and deprived of water.
When an owner is overly aggressive to their pet, they tend to hit, kick, shout at, and sometimes even throw them across the room. What people don't realize is that most animal live to please their owners.
So tell me, does it make sense to beat someone who was only trying to please you? The only thing worse that physical abuse towards animals is forcing a physically abused animal to fight another. Animal fighting is cruel and dangerous, it endangers the lives of the animals who are forced to fight as well as the spectators.
No case brought national attention like that of NFL quarterback Michael Vick who went to prison for his part in killing dogs that he and his friends had in fights. He's back in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Think about it, if I were to beat you constantly, starve you, and then throw you in a ring and force you to fight someone who has also gone through the same thing, would you like it? Many of these fights result in the death of at least one of the two animals in the ring.
That is animal slaughter.
In the rare chance that some of the animals are saved from these horrific fighting rings, there are special therapies and programs they must go through before the idea of adoption is even thought of.
The results of animal abuse are horrible; they are nearly as painful as the actual abuse. Animals who have been abused physically and emotionally have problems trusting humans. These poor creatures are constantly terrified and they are emotionally scarred.
A lot of rescued animals also have health problems, which sometimes results in death. Some of them have attitude problems, which means they are aggressive towards other animals and humans.
They become a threat and commonly are put down, but does that seem fair when it wasn't their fault?
The truth of the matter is, that animal abuse whether intended or unintended only causes a negative affect and commonly results in physical and emotional scars.
Mistreating these kind and gentle creatures just seems unjust and wrong.