Dog abuse has many forms, none of which are excusable. People who neglect their dogs are just as guilty as those who actively abuse them and should be held accountable for their actions. Dogs should be wonderful companions that are an integral part of the family and treated as such.
Unfortunately, over 6,000 cases of dog abuse are reported each year in the United States. In fact the total number of dogs who are abused yearly could be exponentially higher than that based on all the cases of abuse that don’t get reported. Dogs often die or get dumped in shelters due to the abuse they suffer. But for some of them, like the one in this video, there is a glimmer of hope.
Dog hoarders often have no idea they’re harming their pets
Hoarding is a serious mental illness. Hoarding in general is unhealthy and potentially dangerous for the hoarder and his or her family. When it comes to hoarding animals, every single pet is at risk. Dog hoarders have, in most cases, way more pets than they can handle. Most hoarded dogs don’t get the veterinary care they need and develop illnesses or have injuries that get infected. A hoarder may forget to feed and water his or her dogs or simply may not have enough food to go around. Living conditions are often unsanitary because the dogs relieve themselves inside the house and the hoarder doesn’t clean it up. Animal hoarders are often older women who need mental or social services.
Testing is Cruel and Inhumane
Using animals to test products and chemicals is often a death sentence. Even if the animal survives testing, the procedure can be painful and he or she can have complications for the rest of its life. Beagles are the dog of choice for testing because they have a trusting and gentle natur
Less than 3 percent of animals used for testing are used in the medical field, which means that the majority of lab dogs and animals are used to test mundane products like make-up and soaps.
71 Percent of Abused Women Say that their Abuser Also Abused their Dog
Statistics show that people who abuse their pets are often linked to other criminal activities, including abusing other family members. Many abused women fear leaving their home because they are afraid that their abuser might hurt or kill their pets. Pets are often abused as revenge and also because abusers know that harming their victim’s dog will also hurt the victim. It is estimated that over a million dogs are harmed each year in the United States as a result of domestic violence. Additionally:
- 32 percent of battered women say their children have abused or killed household pets.
- In 2007, 7% of media-reported animal cruelty cases were linked to a domestic dispute or were perpetrated by someone with a history of domestic violence.
- Before 1986, only 4 states in the United States had laws against animal cruelty.
There are Still Tens of Thousands of People Involved in Dog Fighting
This violent and highly secretive practice can generate a lot of money and, sadly, many people still gravitate to dog fighting rings every year. The dogs used in dog fighting don’t only suffer the injuries sustained in the fight, their whole lives are miserable. From the time they are born, puppies raised for dog fighting are kept on a short and heavy chain, trained mercilessly and banned from socializing with both humans and other dogs. Their ears and tails are crudely cut to lessen areas that can be bit. Losers of high profile fights are often executed or left to die of their injuries without any medical care. The problem isn’t only the breeders. It is anyone who attends a dog fight, even if they are not directly involved in the fighting or the betting. By attending they are helping to promote the event and keep this despicable practice alive.
Dog Abuse Often Doesn’t Leave a Mark
Psychological abuse is just as serious as physical abuse. Owners who constantly yell at their dogs or frighten them on purpose can be just as cruel to their animals as those who hit or maim their dogs. Psychological abuse of a dog is just as traumatic as that of a child and it often leads to dogs being taken to a shelter. Many of those dogs never get over the trauma and can be difficult to adopt out. Some only partially recover and others learn to trust humans again. Dogs that have been confined to a crate for a long period of time often have great difficulty becoming house trained. These dogs require patient and loving new families and may have permanent damage that will affect them for the rest of their lives.
If you see a dog or any other animal in any of these situations, it is your duty to report it to the proper authorities. No animal should ever go through any form of trauma, but for those who are found in time there may still be hope.
