ASPCA(R) Offers Tips for Recognizing Animal Cruelty
April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
NEW YORK, April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Kicking the dog is a phrase that has become common use in the English language. However, we shouldn't be so flippant when using a euphemism that describes an act of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is defined as acts of violence or neglect perpetrated against animals.
Examples of animal cruelty include overt abuse, dog fighting and cock fighting, and companion animals being neglected or denied necessities of care, such as food, water or shelter. Animal welfare organizations across the country work daily to educate people about how to care for their companion animals and how they can prevent animal cruelty.
April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month. In honor of this month, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R) (ASPCA) is offering these 10 tips on how to identify animal cruelty.
1. Be aware. Without phone calls from concerned citizens who report
cruelty in their neighborhoods, humane organizations wouldn't know
about most instances of animal abuse. Get to know and look out for
the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, people are more
likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once
hefty has lost weight rapidly -- a possible indicator of abuse.
2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. The following are some signs:
* Wounds on the body; patches of missing hair; extremely thin, starving
animals; limping, etc.
* An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.
* Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often
chained up in a yard.
* Dogs who have been hit by cars -- or are showing any of the signs
listed above -- and have not been taken to a veterinarian.
* Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather
conditions.
* Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their
owners.
3. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. Every state and every town
is different. In some areas, people may rely on the police department
to investigate animal cruelty; in others, people have to contact their
local animal control or another municipal agency. The ASPCA(R) has a
section of its website devoted to helping people find local services
for investigating animal cruelty, please visit http://www.aspca.org/
for more information.
4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal
cruelty. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you
witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it
took place.
5. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know
that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty
is a CRIME -- and the police MUST investigate these crimes.
6. Know your state's animal cruelty laws. They vary from state to state,
and even from city to city. You can visit the ASPCA(R) website at http://www.aspca.org/statelaws to find information about the laws in
your state.
7. You can fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal,
state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade to lobby
your legislators and help get the laws passed.
8. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always
show them the love and good care that they deserve. It's more than
just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is
sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your
animals spayed or neutered.
9. Talk to your kids about how to treat animals with kindness and
respect. One of the most power tools for preventing cruelty to
animals is education. It is important to plant the seeds of kindness
in children early, and to nurture their development as the child
grows. Children not only need to learn what they shouldn't do, but
also what they can and should do. When children see that their pets
are happy and loving, it will make the child feel good, too. This in
turn will help the children care for their pets' feelings.
10. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. Support
your local animal rescue organization or shelter with donations of
money, food or supplies. Volunteering your time or fostering a
shelter animal is a good way to make a difference.
About ASPCA(R)
Founded in 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal(R) (ASPCA) was the first humane organization established in the Western Hemisphere and today has one million supporters. The ASPCA's(R) mission is to provide an effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA(R) provides national leadership in humane education, government affairs and public policy, shelter support, and animal poison control. The NYC headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital, animal behavior center, and adoption facility. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York's animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series Animal Precinct on Animal Planet. Visit http://www.aspca.org/ for more information.
