Today I was looking at Galen's Weekend-Engagement writing prompts, to see what he came up with this time and saw a topic that I think needs exposure and that is animal cruelty.
Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction by omission (neglect) or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon non-human animals. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific achievements, such as killing animals for entertainment; cruelty to animals sometimes encompasses inflicting harm or suffering as an end in itself, referred to as zoosadism. source
You probably read in some of my previous posts how affected I am by animal cruelty but not only. Even selling a horse can be hard for me to understand. I get attached to them and feel sorry for each of them. But let's go back to the original topic, which is animal cruelty.
Animal cruelty refers to hurting animals but hurting them can have different forms, even though some of these forms are not clear to many.
Nowadays it's very comment to have pets, even if you live in a very small apartment. Elder people choose to have a cat or a dog, to have someone to talk to, to care for. It's not a bad idea as many times these pets are the only one they can talk to all day.
I used to see them walking their dogs regularly while jogging and they were the ones I feared the most. Why? Because most of the times they have no idea how to control their dogs. They chose small size dogs, to be able to deal with them, but that doesn't mean the dog will listen to you. The temperament of the dog should take priority over size. Just as you can't train a St. Bernard to be a race dog, you can't expect a Jack Russell to stay calm all day.
Jack Russells are first and foremost a working terrier. Originally bred to bolt foxes from their dens during hunts, they are used on numerous ground-dwelling quarry such as groundhog, badger, otter, and red and grey fox. The working JRT is required to locate quarry in the earth, and then either bolt it or hold it in place until they are dug to. To accomplish this, the dog will not bark but will expect attention to the quarry continuously. Because the preservation of this working ability is of highest importance to most registered JRTCA/JRTCGB breeders, Jack Russells tend to be extremely intelligent, athletic, fearless, and vocal dogs. It is not uncommon for these dogs to become moody or destructive if not properly stimulated and exercised, as they have a tendency to bore easily and will often create their own fun when left alone to entertain themselves, leading to the semi-affectionate nickname among suburban pet dogs of- "Jack Russell Terrorist".
Their high energy and drive make these dogs ideally suited to a number of different dog sports such as flyball or agility. Obedience classes are also recommended to potential owners, as Jack Russells can be stubborn at times and aggressive towards other animals and humans if not properly socialized. Despite their small size, these dogs are not recommended for the condominium or apartment dweller unless the owner is ready to take on the daunting task of providing the dog with the necessary amount of exercise and stimulation. They have a tremendous amount of energy for their size, a fact which can sometimes lead to trouble involving larger animals. They may seem never to tire and will still be energetic after their owner has called it a day. While socialised members of the breed are friendly towards children, they will not tolerate abuse even if it is unintentional.source
I love Jack Russells, those are one of the cutest dogs, but their high energy level requires a lot of attention, so locking them in an apartment is definitely not the best way to treat them.
How many times we see dogs dragging the owner, which usually results in the owner scolding the dog, even beating it for not listening to their command. It's a common thing unfortunately and it breaks my heart when I see such behavior. As if exercising force can lead somewhere.
Keeping big size birds locked up without proper care can also be considered animal cruelty in my opinion. Some birds are hunters, predators by nature, they need space to fly and hunt, so locking them up can harm them a lot.
Taking care of a pet is an obligation. The quality of the care should be in accordance with the pet's need and not in accordance with what you can or willing to give them. You may be satisfied with yourself for walking a dog for 10 minutes a day but is that enough for them?
Overfeeding is also common, especially among older owners. Rewarding their four legged friends with food is for them a way of showing love. For the pet, such love can be life threatening, especially when their daily walk is short or non existent.
I could go on and on with examples, but I don't think it is needed. You know what animal cruelty is, you can see it every day, unfortunately and if you can't, you can consider yourself lucky.
The purpose of this challenge is to find solutions to the problem. I have one, which many won't like. This idea has been in my head for a long time and I think it's not going to be implemented as a rule or law because it's easier to do nothing, or this matter will never be a priority.
What's the solution? I would give permission to keep pets only to those who have attended a special school or course. Teaching owners how to care for their pets is the only way. Teaching them how to handle their pets would save both of them from complications. Having the necessary environment for keeping pets should be a criteria when deciding if you can have a pet, or not. Obviously it's easier said than done as regular checks would be necessary in that case and legal ground as well, but it's not impossible.
A trained dog can not only be your best friend for life but can also save your life in case it is needed. Learning to train them should be a priority, as otherwise roles can easily be reversed and you find yourself on the wrong end of the equation, being dominated by your pet. Animal cruelty should be punished by law as well and taken seriously.
Till then, each individual should do what they can to eradicate animal cruelty. Take the time to learn how to handle your pets, learn about their needs and treat them well. Treat them as you would like to be treated.
If you're a newbie, you may want to check out these guides:
