Sociology

Cruelty to animals means causing suffering or harm to animals for reasons which are not for self defense. It may also be aimed at some gain like killing animals for food or even fur. There are many reasons why people abuse animals. Animal cruelty encompasses many actions therefore it cannot have one definition. Every type of abuse has shown definite patterns of behavior that can be used to help in investigating reasons why people show cruelty to animals. Animal cruelty can be divided into two groups referred to as active and passive.

Cruelty animals face
Passive cruelty is associated with cases like neglect, failure to take action to alleviate an animal suffering. Harsh animal neglect can cause unbelievable pain and agony to an animal. Examples of neglect are hunger, thirst, parasite infestations, overgrown collars, inadequate shelters during bad whether conditions like extreme cold and failure to take the animal to the veterinarian when it needs medical attention. In  cases where the reason for the neglect was ignorance, then the pet owner should be given some formal education on how to take care of the animal and follow up should be carried out to ensure that the recommendation are implemented. Under extreme cases, the animal may need to be taken for medical intervention (Lockwood, 2009).

In active cruelty, the person causing the harm has malicious intention to do so. It may sometimes be called non accidental injury. Intentional cruelties are mostly disturbing and may be regarded as symptoms of serious psychological disorder. Show of cruelty to animals is linked to sociopathic behavior and immediate action should be considered. Animal cruelty in many places can take many forms and they may have different causes (Lockwood, 2009).In many cases, an individual who is abusive may kill, or even threaten to kill pets in the house so as to get sexual favors from a family member, or not to be asked about his abusive behavior or he may do this with the intention of torturing the victims psychologically (Byrne, 2009).

Research shows that people who are fond of abusing animals have high chances of involving in violent crimes against other people and property crimes than those people without the history of animal abuse (Ascione  Arkow, 1999). Studies in psychology, sociology and criminology which have been done over many years shows that people involved in violent crimes have history of animal abuse. Analysis of the lives of serial killers which was carried out by FBI also showed that high number of them had killed or even tortured animals assuming that they are children. Due to the link of animal cruelty as a sign of psychological disorders, American psychiatric association has considered animal cruelty as one of the diagnostic method of conduct disorder (Ascione  Arkow, 1999).

There are proper measures put in place to stop animal cruelty but there are so many things which can be done to reduce animal abuse. Although these measures will not wipe away animal abuse, there application in our everyday lives would help reduce the rate. The measures do not require one to be an animal activist or even a member of animal rights organization. The measures include encouraging people to care for their animals. Most people care for their pets but may lack all the facts needed in necessitating the need to educate people on how to improve the care they give to the animals (Byrne, 2009).

Another measure which can be employed in an effort to stop animal abuse will be to donate to the animal rescue centers where neglected animals are normally sheltered. Donation can also be made to pet-Abuse.com which provides animal lawyers, and other organizations which provide proper services in order to alleviate animals abuse. A person can also make a different in an animals life through volunteering some few hours in a week to help and also play around with the animals at rescue centers. Getting involved with the local government can also contribute to the reduction of incidences of animal abuse. Animal abuse has been made a crime in only 31 countries and in these states, animal abuse offenders have been prosecuted and charged with various criminal offences. An individual or even a group can dedicate sometime and write to the local authority about the crimes committed against animals and this can create awareness about animal issues (Ascione  Arkow, 1999).

Animal abuse alienation at a personal level can be achieved through adopting an animal. When an animal gets adopted, the person adopting the animal pays some fee which goes towards supporting the ones which have not been adopted. An individual can also help stop animal cruelty by reporting any case of animal cruelty witnessed to a local animal cruelty organization. When one sees an animal which has strayed moving around, its good to either adopt the animal or direct it to the nearby animal rescue centre. One can also campaign against animal cruelty by acting as an example for the rest of the people by treating their pet accordingly and showing love to it. This can be achieved by giving the pet clean fresh drinking water, good food and a clean shelter. When a pet requires medical attention, it should be sent to a veterinarian (Byrne, 2009).

Animal cruelty is a crime and every year, there are animals which are abused. Since the trend has been increasing in our community, this is the time one should stand up and defend these voiceless creatures from cruelty. Since a very few number of people are aware of the problem, community education on animals rights is very necessary. Let everybody get involved in curbing animal cruelty.