CONFRONTING ANIMAL CRUELTY

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. — Mahatma Gandhi.

Why do most people regard human life as sacred, yet some have absolutely no regard for the welfare of animals?  Right now, there are 13,966 cases of animal abuse in the United States. There are many different reasons why people abuse animals.  Animal cruelty comes in many forms.  There is “Passive Cruelty”, typified by cases of neglect, where the crime is more of a lack of action rather than an action itself.  Don’t be mistaken, passive cruelty can cause incredible pain and suffering through starvation, dehydration and parasite infestations.   “Active Cruelty” is defined by malicious intent, where a person has intentionally caused harm to a defenseless animal.  Acts of deliberate cruetly are often some of the most disturbing.  This type of behavior is often associated with sociopathic behavior and should be taken very seriously.

At least two stories of animal abuse are in the news today.  One reports a cat which was set on fire and left to die a horrible death. The other tells the tale of the shooting of a 4-week old puppy.  Injustice is rampant across the globe.  Wolves are being shot from helicopters and bush planes after being chased to the point of exhaustion. The Humane Society reports a California slaughterhouse was using a range of torture including “waterboarding” to prod animals into slaughter. A video showed workers kicking cows, ramming them with forklift blades, applying electric shocks and even using a hose to stimualte the feeling of drowning so the animals would revive long enough to pass federal inspection!  Sadly,  in many instances, anyone who would torture or kill a pet is going to do the same to a human.  Every serial killer starts on animals.

If you suspect that an animal has been abused, by somone you know, or by a stranger, there are actions you can take.  The most important is to report the cruelty to your local law enforcement.  If you witness animal cruelty in progress and do not know the number to the appropriate agency, call 911! Animal cruelty is a CRIME!