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Animal Cruelty Essay

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Animal cruelty is any act of violence or neglect against an animal. A few things one may have seen are an animal tied up outside for all hours of the day with no food or water or maybe a person has seen an owner purposely hit their dog. Animals, like humans, have feelings and reactions to the way they are handled: abused animals could become dangerous to society. Society most often defines animal cruelty as the infliction of physical pain, suffering, or death upon an animal when not necessary for purposes of training, discipline, or to procure food (MSPCA Angell 1). If the animal is hurt not to procure food, or release the animal from incurable suffering but wantonly for mere sport, the indulgence of a cruel and vindictive temper, or …show more content…

Most cats and dogs that a person gets from a pet store have come from a puppy mill, where they are caged up and bred multiple times (“Animal Cruelty Facts” 2). Puppy mills are when animals are used for commercial purposes used solely for financial gain (C. Smith, personal communication, 17 October 2011). These puppies are kept in unsanitary confinements where they must eat, sleep, and defecate in the same area (C. Smith, personal communication, 17 October 2011). Another major form of abuse is the exotic pet trade where animals such as birds, snakes, and monkeys are smuggled in suitcases where they remain for long periods of time (“Animal Cruelty Facts” 2). The exotic pet trade has essentially contributed to the suffering of millions of animals, threatening public health and safety, disrupting ecosystems and driving species to endangerment and extinction (C. Smith, personal communication 17 October 2011).
“Other common but cruel legal practices include dogs kept perpetually tethered on short chains, unable to properly exercise, dogs and cats confined to dark basements but otherwise properly cared for; and highly social elephants and other wild animals living solitary, stress-laden, and unnatural lives in zoos” (MSPCA Angell 2). Tethered dogs are not only socially deprived but victims of abuse including scarce feeding, empty water bowls, and having to urinate and defecate in the same area as they eat and sleep (“Chaining and

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