Animal abuse is not a happy topic; it’s not something that sparks a conversation at a birthday party or family outing. However, as unmentionable as it is, animal abuse is real. There are two different categories of abuse, and each is a serious matter. Unfortunately, every state does not have strict laws against abuse. Understanding the differences can help you recognize abusive behavior and find ways to seek help.
The two types of animal cruelty are referred to as active cruelty and passive cruelty. Active cruelty can also be called “commission,” while passive cruelty is sometimes called “omission.” The two categories cover a wide range of abusive behavior, but they do not provide concrete definitions. It is up to the witness of the cruelty to interpret where the behavior lies.
Active cruelty is probably the most well-known (if, in fact, it can be considered as such). This type of malice is seen in movies or on the nightly news. Active animal abuse, like the name suggests, is where the abuser deliberately causes harm to the animal. Basically, the abuser resorts to violence when handling the animal. Kicking and hitting the pet are just two possibilities of an active abuser. Research has found that many active abusers suffer from psychological problems, and the abuse is often evident in other areas of their lives. Some theories suggest that people who feel powerless resort to exhibiting their “power” over their animals as a way to keep control. Whatever the underlying reasons, active abuse, or commission, is a serious problem.
Passive cruelty is often the most mistaken and the most overlooked. In the case of omission, the animal is not being physically abused. The owner may not be violent or controlling over the animal. Types of omission include a lack of veterinary care, unsatisfactory shelter, starvation, dehydration, and untreated illnesses or infections. Sometimes, a neglectful owner has been caught keeping a puppy’s collar on an adult dog, forcing the collar to grow into the skin of the dog. In many areas, tethering a dog is considered passive cruelty. Aside from the psychological difference, the acts of passive cruelty are similar to animal hoarding: the owner simply does not take care of the pet. Passive cruelty is often hard to identify because it can be a result of an uncaring owner or a result of an ignorant owner. For instance, someone who has never had a pet may not understand that the pet should have access to water at all times. No, that’s not the best hypothetical situation; but, you get the point.
Why someone would abuse an animal is often unknown. Many profiles on serial killers and rapists have identified animal abuse in the perpetrator’s past; so children who abuse animals are often flagged from an early age. In some cases, individuals who experienced abuse themselves passed on the action to animals. Perhaps the problem is psychological or perhaps it is ignorance; either way, identifying the cause does not necessarily help the animal that is being abused. It is up to the local, state, and federal governments to impose stricter animal abuse legislation.
Each country has its own laws and regulations concerning animal abuse. For instance, in the United States, it is still fairly easy to have your cat declawed. However, in many European countries, declawing is viewed as an act of animal abuse. The same is true for cropping a dog’s ears or docking a dog’s tail: it is allowed in some areas and banned in others. Even within the United States, each state has its own laws concerning animal abuse. In some states, animal abuse is considered a felony, in others a misdemeanor; and yet in other states abuse may not even be recognized.
Animal abuse is not a topic that makes people feel positive, but is it something that should be addressed. There are two main types of abuse: active (commission) and passive (omission). Active abuse is deliberate, while passive is usually a form of neglect or ignorance. The reasons why someone would cause harm to an animal are numerous and sometimes unidentifiable, and each area (whether it’s a country, state, or city) has its own laws against abuse. Being able to identify abuse can possibly save the life of a helpless animal.
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August 24th, 2008 