Animal+Abuse+101+(DR)

[[Animal Abuse 101 (DR)|

http://stopanimalabuse.blogspot.com/2009/12/cat-glued-to-minessota-highway-rescued.html]]

-This is a video is an example of animal abuse. The video is about a cat that's owner took it and glued it alive to a Minnesota interstection, hoping it would be either run over or being starved. The cat was seen by a couple driving on the high way who thought it had been killed and hit by a car. When they realized that cat was still alive they removed it from the high way and took it to a rescue shelter. The glue removed the cats paw pads and some of its claws. The cat was taking to a medical rescue center and provided with medical care and is now living with a foster family.


 * __Animal Abuse 101__**

Imagine walking into a room with hundreds of barking dogs and meowing cats. Each in their own small cage in hopes of getting a kind hearted person to love and care for them. As a human being knowing they are there because someone beat, neglected or abandoned them.

Animal abuse has been an on going problem in the United States for decades. In the United States Florida is one of the highest ranked states in all categories for animal abuse, while New Jersey is on of the lowest. Animal Abuse is an issue that is sometimes overlooked by many individuals. It is sometimes overlooked by people because it is not direct abuse on another human being. Therefore people might not take it as seriously.

The legal definition of animal abuse is the “crime of inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for normal discipline. It can include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding food and water) that the animal has suffered, died or been put in imminent danger of death.” according to legaldictionary.com.

“It’s all about owner education,” Belinda from Hopewell Animal Control said. She explained that a lot of the problem with Animal Abuse is that most owners aren’t properly educated on their animal, whether it’d be a dog, cat, horse, or a bird. “For example, most owners don’t realize that a dog must have some sort of shelter all year round, whether it is indoors or outdoors” Belinda said. A lot of owners just leave their dogs outside for the winter, not necessarily because they are being cruel but because they think it is okay for the dog.

To see how well some people know about animal abuse, I conducted a survey to understand students thoughts and feelings about it. Kevin Ferreira a junior from Hopewell Valley Central High School defined animal abuse as “Not feeding, or treating and animal right. Or any type of abuse towards an animal.” George Needham a teacher from Hopewell Valley Central High School said the first thing that comes to mind when someone says animal abuse to him is “Michael Vick’s dog fighting incident.” Needham also explained he feels that people who abuse animals are “weak people who need to find dominance somewhere so they take it out on an innocent creature.”

Then there is the story of Miles Meara, the Meara family dog. Kelsey Meara, a junior from Hamilton High School West explained their story. “We adopted our dog Miles Meara from an Animal Shelter. He was a neglected dog, who ran away from his owners.” She also said that the people at the animal shelter judged that Miles had been living in the wild on his own for several months fighting to survive. The family believes that’s the reason why he is animal aggressive. He cannot be around another animal without trying to kill or hurt it. It’s almost as if he sees the other animal as a threat to him.

Kelsey explained when they first got Miles that when he saw Oreo he would try to attack her. That’s when the decision was made that Oreo had to begin to live in the basement. When her parents go to bed they bring Miles with them. While Miles is asleep upstairs they let the cat come upstairs from the basement and socialize a bit with whoever is awake in the house at that time. Kelsey explained when they first got Miles that when he saw Oreo he would try to attack her. That’s when the decision was made that Oreo had to begin to live in the basement. “It definitely makes me feel bad for Oreo. I feel like she is so lonely down the basement all day.” Kelsey said.

Kristen Meara sister of Kelsey Meara, said “While he was in the wild he got Lyme Disease. We have had him for about nine years now and to this day he has some trouble jumping, or going up the entire flight of steps without any problems.” Just to think this dog has all these issues due to being neglected by his previous heartless owner. Luckily for Miles he was able to find a new home that has a lot of love for him.

Pet-Abuse.com generates daily statistics on new cases animal abuse. So far, in the first 19 days of the New Year there have already been 11,028 cases of animal abuse reported. To average that out, it comes to about 580 cases a day all around the country. Out of that eleven thousand cases reported, 2,215 the highest number of abusers, are people between the ages of 31-40. 6,726, the highest number of those abuse cases were abuse against dogs (of a non pit bull mix/breed). Cats had the second highest number of abuses cases. And third highest was abuse cases against horses. These statistics is the reality of the way some people feel and act towards animals. These statistics should be shouting out loud to anyone sees them.

Change and taking action is the only real way to fix a problem like this. If you ever suspect an animal getting abused, it is highly advised to call your local Animal Control. Reporting can help save the lives and livelihood of these amazing creatures. Another way to help is if you are interested in adopting, volunteering, or donating money to the ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) you can visit their website at www.aspca.org.