by Jennifer York

Created on: November 18, 2008   Last Updated: November 19, 2008

Animal abuse is a problem that affects many species, its distribution is world wide, and it indiscriminately spans diverse peoples, lands and social contexts. Animal abuse has gained overwhelming media and legal attention which has heightened social awareness. Most recently, the indictment of NFL star Michael Vic and the case of Met's player Joseph Petcha killing his girlfriend's cat, made headlines. Animal cruelty is a crime. As human beings, and good citizens, we need to act responsibly and report animal abuse to the authorities at the slightest suspicion. What is your individual role? How can you do your part to end animal abuse? What should you do if you suspect an animal is being abused?

We use animals for food, companionship, medical research, to guide the disabled, and in military and disaster programs. These creatures should be respected and treated as humanely as possible no matter what their relation is to our lively hood. It's important to acknowledge that while animals may not understand why they hurt, their pain is legitimate. How do you go about speaking out and contacting the proper authority to rescue an animal from an abusive situation?

Recognizing abuse is the first of three steps in reporting it to the authorities. Since the scope of animal abuse is broad, the focus of this article is recognizing and reporting the abuse of domestic companion animals (dogs and cats). Many scenarios can fall under the umbrella terms "cruelty" and "abuse." Neglect, starvation, trauma, physical injury (gun shot wounds, stab wounds and burns), dog fighting, poisoning, hoarding, confinement, strangulation, and denying a sick or injured animal veterinary care are very common abuse type situations.

Signs of neglect include matted, dirty coats, overgrown nails, and thin body condition. Though hard to imagine, starvation is a common abuse finding. A very thin, muscle-wasted, weak animal is a classic finding. The immediate environment of a starved animal is usually void of food and water supply. Hitting, beating, kicking or using an object to strike an animal constitutes physical abuse. Burns can be chemical, from boiling water, hot pipes or resulting from an animal being set on fire.

Dog fighting is another type of abuse where dogs are illegally fought for sport. It often results in severe injuries or death. Unlike dog fighting, situations that involve poisonings may be more difficult to identify. An example is a healthy, young barking yard dog that suddenly disappears

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