by Wendy Brooks

Created on: January 22, 2009

I'm glad to see that there are 'Animal Rights' organizations out there who are trying to help protect animals but I don't think it's enough. Unfortunately we are hearing about and seeing more cases of animal cruelty and more needs to be done to stop it.

Domestic animals depend on us to provide for them and to protect them. A dog, for example, is one of the most loyal pets a person can own. They provide companionship, love and protection and only ask to be loved and cared for in return. However, there are pet owners who treat their pets with cruelty such as hitting them if they don't obey, or leaving them outside in extreme hot or cold weather. Some owners just decide they don't want them anymore and drop them off along the side of the road to fend for themselves. Dogs and cats have even been tortured just for the pure fun of it. There were cases from a city close to where I live where cats were found mutilated in a park. Teenagers were killing these poor cats just for the sake of torturing them and seeing them in pain. There was also another case where a dog was thrown out of the car while the owner was driving down a busy four-lane highway, obviously killing the dog. There's no excuse for such cruel and vicious acts!

Wild animals are being cruelly treated as well. Circus animals are a prime example of this. Animals such as bears and elephants are chained and beaten as a way of training them to perform various acts. We've all at one point have heard or seen the pictures of such animals on television living in small, dirty cages. These animals were not meant to live like that but are punished if they disobey or can't do what their owners want them to do. Some of these animals end up turning on their owners because of this which sometimes results in the animal being destroyed. Where's the logic in this? These animals are meant to live in the wild in their own habitats, not performing in a circus or other money-making acts. They are being forced to live in cages and to perform acts that are totally unnatural to them, but yet some lose their lives because they resist or are no longer needed. The seal hunt is another example where pup seals are hit over the head and killed. How could anyone look at those cute little faces and still want to hurt them - I just don't understand how some people can be so cruel and heartless!

Animals are live beings and have feelings just like we do. The difference is that animals cannot speak for themselves. When they try to put up a defence, they are sometimes killed for it. Therefore, animals need us to speak up for them and to protect them from those who don't care. It's good to see that there are stricter laws and penalties for animal cruelty but we all need to do our part like reporting any sightings of animal cruelty or supporting your local animal shelter.

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