Community Problem Report on Animal Abuse
Megan Bracken
University of Texas at El Paso
Abstract
Ethical problems arise around the world on a daily basis. One ongoing ethical problem is that of animal abuse. The treatment of animals is often debated. Animals are given rights by the law however these laws are not always enforced. Due to this fact animals continue to suffer and face abuse. There are many forms of abuse ranging from domestic violence to experimentation. In order to help protect these animals organizations are formed and use many methods to ensure their safety. Animal abuse is a nationwide problem and different cases arise in different states. The most recent form of abuse that is being debated is that of pet mills. Some states are creating laws in order to prevent pet shops from getting animals from pet mills. El Paso has already enacted such a law.
Community Problem Report on Animal Abuse
Animal abuse is a nationwide problem that is often ignored. Thousands of animals suffer on a daily basis often living a life full of fear and pain. They are beaten, neglected, abandoned, or even used in experiments. Over the years there have been many arguments about whether animals deserve rights and organizations have been formed to protect these acclaimed rights. Laws have also been enacted to offer more protection however they are not always enforced. In order to gain a better understanding of animal abuse this paper will inform readers about the variety of animal abuse, means of protection for these animals, and give a specific example of animal abuse occurring in El Paso. People need to become aware of the sufferings of these abused animals and help put an end to this problem.
Another type of animal abuse is dog fighting. This means the type of dog fighting for entertainment. During these fights dogs are put up against other dogs and are forced to fight for the simple fact that onlookers enjoy watching this brutality happen. “Dogfighting is a sadistic "contest" in which two dogs—specifically bred, conditioned, and trained to fight—are placed in a pit (generally a small arena enclosed by plywood walls) to fight each other for the spectators' entertainment and gambling.” (“Dogfighting Fact Sheet”, n.d.). The reason why this can be considered animal abuse is due to the fact that these dogs are often injured badly. The inflicted wounds can be severe and fatal. “Dogs used in these events often die of blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion, or infection hours or even days after the fight” (“Dogfighting Fact Sheet”, n.d.).
Perhaps one of the most debated forms of animal abuse is that of experimentation. Take a moment to consider this, “millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, dogs and other animals are locked inside cold, barren cages in laboratories across the country” (“Animals Used for Experimentation”, n.d., para.1). These animals have no choice and are being used to test products. They are forced to suffer through painful and cruel experiments. While in these laboratories “they languish in pain, ache with loneliness and long to roam free” (“Animals Used for Experimentation”, n.d., para.1). Some people justify animal experimentation because it can lead to breakthroughs in medical treatment. However, there are many experiments done that are not even necessary. Many of these tests that aren’t even required by law can lead to inaccurate results (“Animals Used for Experimentation”, n.d., para.3).
There are many forms of animal abuse but what is being done to help protect these helpless animals? To begin there have been several movements to promote the humane treatment of animals. One movement involves traditional humane interest groups whom “care for stray animals, fight animal abuse (i.e., unsatisfactory housing, poor nutrition, physical torment, etc.), and generally concern themselves with “quality of life” issues” (Silberman, 1988, p. 161). Another movement advocates animal rights. Supporters of this movement “see animals attaining the same rights, short of voting, that humans have” and would “like to see the captive care of all biomedical research come to an end, and the human race to turn to vegetarianism” (Silberman, 1988, p. 161). These movements may have caused a shift in the way humane treatment of animals has been viewed, but perhaps the greatest form of protection comes from the animal welfare legislation. “In the United States, state anticruelty laws go well beyond prohibiting beating, injuring, and the like, and impose affirmative duties on people who have animals in their care” (Sunstein, 2003, p.389). Certain treatments of animals are viewed as crimes and thus punishable by law such as transportation of an animal in a cruel or inhumane manner and confining animals to spaces with poor air, little or no water or food, and bad shelter (Sunstein, 2003, p. 389). As Sunstein (2003) points out it is also a crime not to provide animals with the necessities such as water, food and shelter (p. 390). Many organizations have also been formed in order to ensure animals are taken care of. One of the earlier organizations is the American Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). It was founded by Henry Bergh’s in 1869 and now has over 7,000 groups (Silberman, 1988, p. 162). ASPCA’s slogan is “we are the voice” meaning they are the voice for the animals whom cannot speak up and protect themselves from the cruelty they face. Another well known organization is the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). HSUS “opened its doors in 1954 in Washington, D.C.” (Silberman, 1988, p.162). HSUS works “to reduce suffering and improve the lives of all animals by advocating for better laws; investigating animal cruelty; encouraging corporations to adopt animal-friendly policies; conducting disaster relief and animal rescue; and providing direct care for thousands of animals at our sanctuaries, emergency shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and mobile veterinary clinics.” (“About Us”, n.d.).
To get more familiar with animal abuse it s helpful to look at specific situations. Recently there has been a controversy about pet stores getting pets from puppy mills. In El Paso Petland has been accused of this. HSUS conducted several investigations and found that “of the more than 100 individual breeders who sell animals to Petland stores, almost half of them had been cited for violations of the Animal Welfare Act by the USDA at least once during the previous three years.”(Bosworth, 2010, para. 5). Puppy mills are horrible places in which animals are often neglected, underfed, and crammed into cages with little or no space to move. To help prevent these stores from getting animals from puppy mills the El Paso city council “passed a new law which takes some minor steps toward regulating the pet trade.” (Bosworth, 2010, para. 5). This law is a ban on the sale of cats and dogs in El Paso (Bosworth, 2010, para. 5). Although this law may not be enforced well it is an important step in the right direction to protect animals.
Animals should not be victims of abuse. They deserve rights and the protection the laws can provide them. Organizations have been formed for this purpose but we need to stand up and help in any way we can. Animals don’t have voices so we need to be their voices and speak up for them. The city council of El Paso is setting a good example by adding laws such as the one banning the sale of cats and dogs. They are helping put an end to puppy mills but there are still many forms of abuse that are not being properly addressed. If awareness of the growing issue of animal abuse is brought about then hopefully one day we can put an end to the countless hardships these animals face.
References
About Us: Overview. (n.d.). The Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from http://www.humanesociety.org/about/overview
Animals Used for Experimentation. (n.d.). PETA Foundation. Retrieved October 7, 20010, from http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/default.aspx
Bosworth, B. (2010, October 23). Petland El Paso Sues Texas Animal Rescue Groups. Retrieved from http://animals.change.org/blog/view/petland_el_paso_sues_texas_animal_rescue_groups
Dogfighting Fact Sheet. (n.d.). HSUS in the Field >> Animal Fighting: The Final Round. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/animal_fighting_the_final_round/dogfighting_fact_sheet/
Silberman, Morton S. (1988). Animal welfare, animal rights: the past, the present, and the 21st century. The Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine, 19 (4), 161-167.
Sunstein, Cass R. (2003).The rights of animals. The University of Chicago Law Review, 70 (1), 387-401.
Unchain Your Dog.org | Animal Cruelty Photos, Chained and Neglected Dogs. (n.d.). Help Chained Dogs | A Common Form of Animal Cruelty. Retrieved October 7, 2010, from http://www.unchainyourdog.org/
