Pet Abuse: An Overlooked Violation of rights

PET ABUSE: An Overlooked Violation of Rights

Millions of people welcome animals into their homes as a part of the family. Many of these pets are treated with love and cared for as they should be, but unfortunately not all of them. Some animals are neglected or beat, and the owner gets away with it. Animal cruelty occurs too often an should be punished more to control the abuse and its effects.

The rights that animals have and should have are very controversial issues. Philosopher and Author Tom Regan asserts that “Those animals that “experience” life possess rights. Conscious creatures aware of their environment and that may have goals, desires, emotions, and a sense of their own identity have an inherent value” (Animal Rights database). Animals are not brainless blobs of nothing; they live life like humans.

There are many groups that fight to protect animals and win them rights. Although animal welfare movements are more concerned about treatment of animals in agriculture, medical, scientific, and industrial use, the primary concern when they began in the 1800s was the humane treatment of pets (Morrison database). Groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Student Action Corps for Animals (SACA)

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An officer from the Michigan Humane Society said “An animal may become very defensive and/or aggressive towards humans and other animals after bad experiences“ (Animal Cops). A cat or dog has an accident or tears something up around the house, the owner cannot control his anger and hits the dog, and does not stop. Instead they must deal with abuse or be left wherever the owner leaves them. Pets are abandoned all the time because the owners either cannot afford it anymore, it lost its “cuteness” as it got older, became more of a problem than they wanted, or many other reasons. They even get more angry when the animal cowers and hides. are against all uses of animals including food, dissection, research, fabrics, zoos, and even as pets (database).

Many animals enjoy the love and companionship that goes along with being a pet. Maybe the pet does not do anything wrong but the owner is just angry and decides to take it out on it. If he is abandoned, what can he do? Return home only to be left alone again by people who do not want him. Possibly, the abuser has deeper problems and needs to feel dominant and have control over another life. A dog that was hit all the time for little or no reason will cower or move back any time anyone moves a hand, even when the intention was to pet it nicely. Most people may not realize that neglect is just as bad a cruelty to an animal. People who abandon their pets convince themselves that the animal will be fine to fend for itself and they are giving it “freedom“, or that someone else will come along and care for it (Curtis 24). They cannot block a swing or call someone for help.

Approximate Word count = 976
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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