What You Need To Know About Animal Cruelty

Animal Cruelty Prevention

Most responsible and loving animal owners know that their animal needs all types of care, love and attention. This way, everything from their physical, mental and emotional needs are being taken care of.

However, as incomprehensible as it is, there are people out there who are deliberately or unconsciously cruel to animals. While we think of animal cruelty as large behaviours that are violent in nature, it can be as small as keeping water out of reach.

With this in mind, it’s important for all animal owners to understand the differences between cruelty free pet ownership and cruel pet ownership. This way, more pets can be properly taken care of.

How to be a responsible pet owner

Being a responsible pet owner means more than just providing your animal with love and care. This is because animals are dependent on you for everything from food and water to mental and physical enrichment.

With this in mind, pet owners need to be across their pet’s basic needs and also their wellbeing. This includes activities such as taking them to the vet because studies show that 82% of dogs and 64% of cats need to see the vet at least once a year.

It also includes making sure that they have a sheltered and comfortable place to retreat to. Animals, while they love humans, need their own space. They also need food and water in order to operate on a daily basis.

Apart from basic care, animals also need our attention. Whether you own a cat or a dog, you are the centre of their world. This means that you can’t simply leave them for hours on end or days at a time.

Instead, you need to be a presence in their life. This way, separation anxiety doesn’t impact their physical and mental wellbeing. Additionally, when you spend time with your pet, you can ensure their enrichment by playing games or taking them on walks.

Abuse, neglect, or cruelty: the signs to look out for

There are signs to show that you are a responsible owner, just like how there are signs that highlight irresponsible owners. With this in mind, we all have a responsibility to spot the signs of animal cruelty. We can’t just stay quiet in the hope that someone else will spring to action.

As such, some of the common signs of abuse, neglect or cruelty present as poor body condition and noticeable trauma. Poor body conditions means that the pet could be quite thin, with a long coat or even a flea or insect infected coat. Trauma looks like wounds and blood.

Neglect and cruelty can be spotted through a lack of food and water, shelter and sanitation. Every animal has a right to hydration and proper nutrition. Shelter and sanitation is also key to wellbeing and the absence of which can denote both a neglectful and cruel owner.

Signs of abuse can also be seen when dogs are tied up or caged. It’s cruel to keep dogs on short leashes or locked in cages where they cannot move. Keep in mind that if you see a dog on a long tether with water nearby while they wait for their owner in the shop, this is ok.

Overt acts of violence are often key indicators of abuse. Just think, if the owner is comfortable doing this in public, what are they doing in private? Violence includes kicking, hitting or yelling at an animal who is defenceless.

You can also spot cruelty or abuse in animals who seem to have abnormal behaviours. Some animals who are being abused may react to seemingly innocuous situations with overt anger or an uncharacteristic shyness.

How to help an animal in need

Witnessing animal cruelty, abuse or neglect can be quite confronting. However, it’s important to try and offer help where you can. While it isn’t wise to overtly call out an abusive owner, taking note of details for the authorities to handle the situation is both wise and responsible.

It’s important to intervene when you witness animal cruelty, but you need to keep your safety a priority. With this in mind, look to document as many details as possible such as car registration, address of where the incident occurred, the breed of animal and what the owner looked like.

From there, it’s important to contact authorities so you can officially document the incident. By providing the right people with the best information possible, you can truly help an animal in need.

Putting an end to animal cruelty

Animals can provide so much light and love to their human family. In return, owners provide them with care and attention. However, there are some instances where the wrong people purchase or adopt pets.

As animals are ultimately defenceless, it’s important to learn what constitutes a responsible owner and what indicates a neglectful owner. With this information, you can ensure your pet’s happiness, all while being on the lookout for other pets who might not be as fortunate.