by Ally Hart

Created on: September 04, 2009   Last Updated: September 05, 2009

Everyday we hear stories about animal cruelty. Owners neglecting to feed their pets, leaving them for shelters or worse, leaving them for dead. It's a imam world and we are supposed to protect our planet and living beings who share it with us.

Animals are living beings. They may not look or act like human beings but they breathe the same air and have hearts that beat as much as any person. Animals look for the basic needs and as a pet owner it is your responsibility to step up and be responsible for them. Shelter, food and love is all it takes.

Being cruel to an animal, specifically a domestic pet such as a cat or a dog is just as bad at harming a child. Animals don't have much defense against a being much bigger, smarter and in most cases stronger.

A dog only looks for a home and loving master to feed and water him. He requires patience to learn and can't be expected to "listen" as well as a human. After all some may understand but none speak our language.

When a dog is scolded by his beloved master, it breaks his heart because all he wants to be is his master's loyal companion. Trying to show a dog you are the master in a physical way will only encourage aggressiveness as dogs learn from a master's behaviour.

Cats are known to be independent and aloof often de-clawed for the owner's pleasure where the animal has no defense but to bite. This is cruel, if you want something cute and cuddly, buy a Teddy bear. Cats are beautiful animals and can be the best pet if loved properly.

Animal Shelters across North America see hundreds upon thousands of domestic animal abuse every year. Some cases of animal abandonment are due to the owners lack of education when it comes to taking care of a domestic pet while other cases are simply human beings being cruel or back yard dog breeders who can't sell pups once they get too old and have no care for them other than monetary gain and if they don't see money, the animal is worthless to them.

Some animals are saved but forced to live the remainder of their lives scarred from the torture and live in the shelter. Others are not so lucky as the abuse and neglect becomes fatal. Shelters cannot foster seriously injured or aggressive animals which are sadly often put to rest.

It is nice to know that there are now laws regarding the proper treatment of animals but somehow it still occurs daily. Abandoning or abusing a pet is like causing harm to a family member.

Animals cannot speak for themselves and it is up to us as the more civil species to stand up and put a stop to it. Being abusive to any creature is inhuman.

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