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Animal cruelty is at an all time high in this country as well as the rest of the world. If you see or hear of any type of cruelty to animals, it is your responsibility to notify authorities immediately, whether it is the police, game warden or proper federal agency. If you see someone beating an animal or if they are chained in a filthy area with no food or water, call the police. If you suspect someone is raising dogs to fight, call the proper authories.

Animal cruelty goes far beyond just the family 'pet' circumstances. Please be aware of the following examples of cruelty:

*Government sanctioned killing

The mass killing of the wild mustangs out West, the aerial killings of the wolves on the Endangered Species List and the brutal killings in mass numbers of the Baby Harp Seals. Contact your Representatives and voice your displeasure of these activites and ask what their stand is on the issues.

*Factory Farming

For chickens on the assembly line of death, they are moved along on a conveyor belt that is supposed to cut off their heads. For those that dodge the blade, they fall into a vat of boiling water, alive. For those unloading the truckloads full of crates of chickens, it is at the amusement of the workers that a chicken be used as a football or bashed against a wall until they are dead.

When purchasing veal for your plate, take into consideration the animal is kept in a cage that they cannot stand up or turn around in, all for the sake of tenderness when they are slaughtered.

*Puppy Mills

Puppy mills are an attempt to breed the most animals possible for monetary gain. The animals are generally stacked in cages, one on top of the other, with no care to the excrement that drops down to the animal below and into the food and water supplies; if there are any. These animals are never cleaned or handled and most will not have their vaccinations. Report any activity of a puppy mill to the proper authorities.

*Cock Fighting

Cock fighting, which is a centuries old tradition, is banned in 49 states. Roosters have their 'spurs' sawed off and replaced by razor sharp steel blades which are from one to three inches long, to enable them to inflict the most damage. They are also given drugs to make them more aggressive. There are laws in place for this and if you hear or know of someone engaged in this activity, call the police immediately.

*Dog Fighting

Even though dog fighting is banned in all states, there is illegal activity in both rural and urban areas. Stolen dogs are often used as 'bait' for training as well as cats and rabbits. Placed in a pen with the training dog, these animals are attacked and killed as part of the training process. These animals are beaten and starved into submission to fight and if the animal loses but is not killed, the owner may think the animal worthless and kill it anyway. There are laws in place for dog fighting, now to include prison time, so if you suspect this type of activity is going on, call the police.

*Trapping

Trapping is used most often for capturing game to eat or to sell the pelts of the animal. It is when an unsuspecting animal wanders into the steel trap that the cruelty begins. The animal, in fear, will chew its own leg off in order to escape. Traps have caused almost the near extinction of bears, mountain lions, wolves and coyotes. If you know someone who traps, pay attention to what they have killed. If you are not sure whether it has been a legal kill, contact your local game warden.

Included in this list, but not examined are: circuses, zoos, poachers, fur traders, whalers and yes, even kids with BB guns. It is up to every individual to be proactive and stop the cruelty to animals and inform the proper authorities.

Learn more about this author, Nanette Piotrowski.
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