Picture a kid in elementary school with an assignment on the whiteboard that states: Write about what you want to be when you grow up. If that kid was me, I would be writing about how I wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved animals and wanted to do whatever I could to be around them and help them. Now, like most people, I did not end up becoming what I wanted to be when I was a child. However I am still very passionate about animals and I still want to help in whatever way possible. Animal abuse is something I am very passionate about. Abuse towards animals is horrific and needs to be stopped. The only way to end animal abuse is to punish those who do it. These days there are many organizations dedicated to helping animal. It’s hard to chose which one to be apart of, PETA, Greenpeace, the Doris Day Animal league, The Humane Society Of the United States, and the Animal Spirit. However, in my opinion, one stand out above the rest.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ASPCA, is one such organization. The ASPCA is mainly concerned with the welfare of animals in the entertainment industry, companion animals, livestock, research animals, and wild animals. The ASPCA believes that animals should be treated with respect and should have consideration for their needs. The mission of the ASPCA, as stated by Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”
Animal cruelty has two main categories: passive cruelty and active cruelty. Passive cruelty is lack of action which could be classified as neglect. The most common types of neglect are starvation, dehydration, inadequate shelter, and failure to seek veterinary care when an animal needs medical attention. Active cruelty is seen as malicious intent were a person purposely harms an animal .In 2007 there were 1,846 cases of animal cruelty in the United States. 743 cases were neglect, 243 cases were shootings, and 100 cases were mutilation. These numbers are alarming and over the past ten years have grown.
The safety and wellbeing of our animals is not the only problem or concern. It has been proven that there is a link between animal cruelty in youth and violence or other serious crimes as an adult. “It has been suggested that animal cruelty may be exhibited by 25% of Conduct Disorder children and that animal abuse may be the earliest symptom evident in Conduct Disorder children. Acts of intentional cruelty are often some of the most disturbing. They should be considered as a sign of serious psychological problems. This type of behavior is often associated with sociopathic behavior. Because Animal cruelty can lead to much bigger problems, the animal’s rights are not the only thing at stake. American society and our children are at stake too.
The ASPCA knows of these correlations and has provided its own answer. The Humane Law Enforcement Agency. The Humane Law Enforcement department of the ASPCA does a great job helping to prevent animal cruelty. This department solely with enforcing the state and federal humane laws. ASPCA agents conduct investigations based on calls from the public or other humane organizations about incidents of animal cruelty, neglect, or abandonment. The Humane Law Enforcement Agency investigates more than 5,000 cases a year and arrests more than 300 people a year. They even have a TV show on Animal Planet called “Animal Precinct”, which is based in New York. The TV show follows the Humane Law Enforcement agents on their many investigations.
If someone is caught and convicted of animal cruelty the likelihood of them mistreating animals again goes down. If that someone also has symptoms of conduct disorder, the likelihood of the animal cruelty progressing to human violence can also go down.
Additionally the ASPCA has other departments as well. Other departments within the ASPCA include the Animal Placement department. Its job is to find homes for the animals the ASPCA rescues. There is a poison control center. There is also a mobile spay and neuter clinic, that provides affordable spay and neuter services and vaccinations. In addition the ASPCA owns an animal hospital that has been featured on “Animal Precinct”. The ASPCA has a government affairs & public policies department, along with its own legal department that prosecutes those found guilty of animal cruelty. Although there are many other organizations out there that are helping to prevent animal cruelty the ASPCA has so many ways to get involved. For me that makes it the perfect choice.
Works Cited
"Animals in Research." The Humane Society of the United States. 20 Mar. 2008
"Greenpeace USA." 20 Mar. 2008
Miller, Cathrine. "Childhood Animal Cruelty and Interpersonal Violence." Clinical Psychology Review 21.5 (2001): 735-749. Science Direct. Google Scholar.
"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals." PETA. 20 Mar. 2008
"Pet-Abuse.Com." 20 Mar. 2008
"The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals." ASPCA. 20 Mar. 2008
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