Animal Abuse

 ANIMAL ABUSING PRACTICES

“Animals are a gift from above for they truly define the words unconditional”

Every day, countless cats, dogs and other animals suffer and die at the hands of the very people who are supposed to care for and protect them. Physical violence, emotional abuse and life-threatening neglect are daily realities for many animals. Their only hope is that a kind person will speak up before it’s too late. Read on to learn more about some common types of cruelty and what you can do to stop them.

Hoarding: A Cruel Compulsion

Animal hoarders are not merely people who have a few too many animals – they are individuals whose mental illness or compulsion can cause criminal behaviour with horrific consequences for animals, the hoarders’ families and their communities. Hoarders exist in virtually every community and include members of every socio-economic status, gender and education level. An increasingly common and disturbing trend involves hoarders who operate under the guise of being “shelters” or “rescues”. Hundreds of sick, starved, wounded, dying and dead animals have been found in raids of such institutional hoarding facilities.

There are three characteristics of hoarding behaviour agreed upon by experts and seen in nearly every case of hoarding:

• Hoarders amass a large number of animals.
• Hoarders fail to provide for animals’ physical and social needs, including food, water, veterinary care and sanitary living conditions.
• Hoarders offer excuses for, or deny, the abysmal living conditions of their animals and, in some cases, their children.

Hoarders often confine animals to tiny cages or crates that are stacked on top of each other. Accumulated faeces and urine – which often cover every surface in hoarders’ residences – can create dangerously high ammonia levels, which can burn skin, eyes and lungs. Parasite infestations and disease outbreaks spread quickly in these crowded conditions. Food and water are usually inadequate – if they are provided at all.

The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg—most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are. However, we can use the information that is available to try to understand and prevent cases of abuse.

Who abuses animals?

Cruelty and neglect cross all social and economic boundaries and media reports suggest that animal abuse is common in both rural and urban areas.

• Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.
• Hoarding behavior often victimizes animals. Sufferers of a hoarding disorder may impose severe neglect on animals by housing far more than they are able to adequately take care of. Serious animal neglect (such as hoarding) is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services.
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• Surveys suggest that those who intentionally abuse animals are predominantly men under 30, while those involved in animal hoarding are more likely to be women over 60.
•  Animal Cruelty Practices That Are Making Us Lose Faith In Humanity With Each Passing Day

• 1.Battery cages

  While you order your sunny side-ups and boiled eggs for breakfast, take a minute to think of where they come from. Hens are kept in cages as small as an A4 sheet and in extremely unhygienic conditions. As much as this practice is cruel, it is also a critical health risk to whoever is consuming those eggs.

  
  

  2. Fur-farming industry

  The fur-farming industry is one of the most cruel animal practices that is still prevalent in the world. Countries like China are huge in the market and the number of animals that are put through unimaginable torture is obscenely high. The animals are kept confined in tiny cages and they’re electrocuted with clamps. Remember that the next time you want to buy a fur coat to be ‘fashionable’.

• 3. Dog-breeding industry

  The dog breeding industry is so prevalent in the world, that most people don’t even know that it’s highly unethical and harmful for canines. The female dog is forcibly made to mate with the male so that she could give birth to multiple litters throughout the year and once she cannot reproduce anymore, she is abandoned with no home to go to. Keep this in mind the next you want to ‘buy’ that exotic puppy by spending thousands of rupees on it.

  4. Circuses

  Even though the circus industry is now being banned from using animals in their acts, they are still used in some places. Human beings are hungry for entertainment and while they sit and laugh, the animals are put through an ordeal that no one should go through. They’re kept chained in tiny cages and are constantly beaten up in order to make them ‘perfect’ in their act.

  5. Lab-testing

  Even though #animalcrueltyfreemakeup is the way most make-up brands are choosing to go, there are still plenty of labs that test the products on animals before putting them out in the market. 

  Apart from make-up, other industries that use animals in labs, are pharmaceutical and the food industry. These animals never see the sun or step outside of these dimly-lit labs.

  
  

  
  

• What can We do to help stop animal cruelty?

  Most animal lovers want to do their part in stopping violence against animals but are unsure where to start. Here are some things you can do.

  
  

  Change your lifestyle

  A simple way to take a stand against animal cruelty is to stop supporting companies that practice it. Make the effort to do business with vegan brands that don't test on animals, and look for the Leaping Bunny cruelty-free logo when in stores.
  

  However, "vegan" doesn't always mean cruelty-free since these products may still be tested on animals — keep this in mind, especially when browsing cosmetics, body care, and household cleaning products. 
  

  You might also want to try adopting a vegan lifestyle. Going plant-based is often the most challenging lifestyle change for people since animal products are so ingrained in our food culture. If you're unable or unwilling to go 100% vegan, try taking small steps to reduce your consumption of animal products, like cooking one vegetarian meal per week.
  

  Another option is to shop organic and ethical. Several popular healthy grocery chains, like Whole Foods, have strict ethical guidelines for sourcing animal products.

  
  

  Support animal rescue groups and charities

  A great way to help stop animal cruelty is to show support for your local animal rescues and charities. Donate if you can, or if you don't have extra funds to spare, consider volunteering.
  

  Donations don't have to be monetary, either — animal rescue groups will equally appreciate old blankets, dog food, and toys. Volunteering at animal shelters and rescue groups is a free way you can contribute and give rescue animals the love they deserve. Even just promoting these organizations on social media can help spread awareness for the cause.

  
  

  Report animal cruelty when you see it

  If you happen to witness animal cruelty, make sure you report it to the appropriate authorities ASAP. In cases of extreme abuse, time is of the essence, so the sooner you call, the better odds the animal has.
  

  You may want to consider reporting the incident to both law enforcement and your local humane society. Take pictures or videos of the abuse if you can. Video and photographic evidence will strengthen the case and help police prosecute the offender to the fullest extent.
  

  
  

  Set a good example

  Lead by example when it comes to the treatment of animals. Teach your kids to respect animals and demonstrate the proper way to handle and care for them. Encourage your children to advocate for helpless animals and step in when they see animal abuse

  
  

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• Purchase Humane Animal Products

  If you eat meat, it is important to try and buy organic and meat free-range. It is not always possible but you can try. The meat industry can be very cruel especially when it comes to high turnover for inexpensive meat.

  
  

  Any time you eat out, it would help to ask where it’s from and if a place does not get its meat humanely, stop going there. The RSPCA has a list of brands that are offering cruelty-free eggs. If you eat dairy, it would help save animals if you checked it out.

  
  

  Stop Littering and Reduce Your Plastic Consumption

  Plastic is harmful to the environment, especially wildlife. Reducing your plastic consumption will go a long way in protecting animals.

  
  

  Any time you litter, you increase the chances of an animal accidentally eating the litter. Avoid littering. If you see someone litter, gently remind them that what they are doing is harmful to animals,

• -SASMITA SHARMA