by Jenny Turpin

Created on: December 18, 2009   Last Updated: October 14, 2010

Most of the time we are exposed to the more extreme cases of animal cruelty. There are shows on television about rescue efforts that rip our hearts out and news reports about horrible cases that are local.  It's a shame that there are so many more subtle ways that an animal can be subjected to cruelty that most of us never hear or think about.

Neglect is an action that is considered cruelty. This goes far beyond just refusing or forgetting to supply  food and shelter for an animal to sustain life. One form of neglect causes loneliness. Most pets are dependent upon company. They are naturally from a group and when they feel separated it can cause them to act out or be unruly. Pets need to be a part of the family.

Hitting or beating a pet is never acceptable. This is an action that screams cruelty. Most pets can be disciplined with the sound of a rolled newspaper or even a deep tone of voice. There is never a need to physically abuse an animal. Pets want to please you and when they understand what it is that you want from them, you will be able to see their attempts to make you happy. Proper training is a wonderful alternative to the age old myth that beating is the best way to teach a pet.

Animal cruelty can also be denying an animal the proper care that they need from a veterinarian. Animals require vaccinations to protect them from serious and life threatening illnesses. These differ from one pet to another, but their importance doesn't waiver. Not making sure that your pet is in good health can be considered cruel, especially if they have to suffer through a disease.

Last but not least, abandonment is one of the most terrible acts of animal cruelty I can think of. To take an animal and leave it to it's own devices is not only cruel, but murder. Pets have not been taught to hunt like wild animals. They were not born in the wild and can not function like a animal that has been. Abandoned pets often starve and suffer slow and painful deaths after being abandoned. 

There are a lot of actions that can be considered animal cruelty. We are all busy and go through tough times, but the important thing is to make sure that you can handle the responsibility that comes with a pet before obligating to have one. This can prevent unintentional animal cruelty and help us to enjoy the experience of having a pet.

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