by Kat Oliver

Created on: May 14, 2009

What constitutes animal abuse or neglect?

First of all let's admit that any type of neglect of an animal constitutes abuse.

If you make the decision to have an animal in your life then you have made an unspoken, unwritten commitment to nurture and care for that animal the same way you nurture and care for another human being. It doesn't matter whether or not the animal stays with you inside your home or outside in a fence or some other designated area. You are now its caretaker and it will look to you for love and guidance and to provide for its basic needs.

You must provide it with a safe and comfortable place to spend its days and nights, and a proper place to sleep. That includes protection from the weather whether it is raining, snowing, storming, or just plain hot or cold. It also includes providing fresh water and fresh, nutritious food. And even more important, you must provide that animal with love and companionship.

Remember the little puppy or kitten you couldn't keep your hands off of so you brought it home? Well, that big, bouncing lab or that independent tom cat you see in the back yard is the same little ball of fur you brought home about a year ago. And the commitment you made to that little life still applies now that it's grown.

Have you ever stopped to think about all the times you left for the day without putting out fresh water or food? What about the times those big brown (or blue or green) eyes looked into yours silently begging for a pat on the head or a gentle stroke down its back? Failing to provide love and attention is neglecting the emotional needs of that animal.

Animals require veterinary care to keep them healthy. Coughs and sneezes, cuts and bites, bumps and swelling should be checked by a veterinarian. Failure to provide proper veterinary care constitutes neglect as well. And of course let's not forget any medication required to prevent heart worms, fleas, ticks and the like.

This applies to all animals that we take responsibility for, from pet mice to Clydesdales.

If you have an animal you are blessed because it will love you unconditionally and will even give its life to protect you. If you don't provide for its emotional and physical needs then you are neglecting that animal. You don't have to beat or starve an animal to abuse it. Continued daily neglect of life's basic needs constitutes neglect. Are you neglecting or abusing your animal? If God suddenly made you trade places with that animal, would you honestly feel neglected or abused or would you be happy?

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