There are
many cases and ways to classify animal cruelty. There are two types of animal
abuse, passive cruelty and active cruelty. “Passive cruelty is typified by cases
of neglect, where the crime is a lack of action rather than the action itself…”
and another is “Active cruelty implies malicious intent, where a person has
deliberately and intentionally caused harm to an animal, and is sometimes referred
to as NAI (Non-Accidental Injury)” (pet-abuse.com). Both types of abuse are
horrible and very painful and sad for the animals to go through. In my opinion,
active cruelty is repulsive and very disturbing, “…but Zim go the third one,
and stood over it, pounding…” (Bass 389). Its repulsive to see how some people
do harm to animals and don’t feel guilty or bad about what they did. It’s especially
sad when it happens to the ones that can’t do anything about it or they can’t
defend themselves, like small unprotected puppies.
There are many cases and types of animal cruelty. The worst ones
are those that are ignored, “I didn’t say anything, not even when Zim came
huffing back up to the porch, walking like a man who had just gone out to get
the morning paper. There was blood speckled around the cuffs of his pants, and
even then I said nothing” (Bass 389). There are ways that someone can report
the abuse of animals, two distinguished associations are ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). But there are steps you
must take before you report an abuse because it can also be a little hard to
tell if an animal is being abused, physical and environment signs are a big
factor. According to ASPCA, an example of a physical sign would be, “Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has
become embedded in the pet’s neck” and an environmental sign would be, “Pets
are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or
water, or with food or water that is unsanitary” (aspca.org). There are many,
many more sometimes obvious and sometimes hidden signs to prove that an animal
is going through abuse and suffering.
People should really be
concerned about animal cruelty because it truly is a serious matter that needs
a lot of attention. Some people don’t report abuse because of they are scared
that the owners finding out or just because of the simple fact that they don’t
know how. Those shouldn’t be factors in keeping an animal from being saved and
getting the correct help or treatments if necessary. Every animal should be
treated right and loved, animals have feelings too and they NEED love and the
feeling that someone cares for them. So, if anyone ever sees animal cruelty
they shouldn’t have to think twice before reporting it. Animals are essential
for life.
Works Cited
ASPCA. 2012. 7 May 2012. < http://www.aspca.org/Home/Fight-Animal-Cruelty>.
Bass, Rick. “’Days of
Heaven.’ from In The Loyal Mountains.”
1995. The Literary West: An Anthology of Western American Literature. Ed
Thomas J. Lyon. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 384-395. Print.
DoSomething.org. 2012. 8
May 2012. < http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-animal-cruelty>.
Elephant chained. 19 Sep. 2011. Buzzle.com. Web. 8 May 2012.
Owner with dog. 8 Jul. 2011. vetskitchen.co.uk. Web. 8 May 2012.
Pet-Abuse.com. 2001-2012.
8 May 2012. < http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/animal_cruelty.php>.
PETA. 2012. 7 May 2012.
< http://www.peta.org/issues/default.aspx>.
Skinny brown dog. 13 Nov. 2011. layingdownthelawlessness.wordpress.com. Web. 8 May 2012.
The
Truth Behind Every Fur Coat - Animal Cruelty MUST be stopped. 23 Apr. 2010. furisbetteronanimals.webs.com.
Web. 8 May 2012.