Animal Cruelty Essay, Research Paper

Cruelty means inflicting pain and causing suffering. Animal cruelty is a nationwide problem rapidly growing in today s society. Animals are being beaten and starved everyday and millions of helpless animals die each year because of heartless owners. There are many forms of animal cruelty; some of the most common forms are scientific research, abandonment, and mistreatment.

Scientific research is a necessity of life, so it is said. Society needs to research to improve economy and the products of everyday life. This is all well and good, until something has to suffer. Many times companies test products on animals for the safety of humans. Monkeys, rats, mice, dogs, and cats are some of the candidates used for laboratory research. The major problem with animal testing is the animals usually suffer in a traumatizing experience. Many animals endure burns, hair loss, rashes and gashes. Some companies go as far as to place metal wires and rods in the animal s head. However, researchers justify this inexcusable treatment with it s for science . Yet you have to wonder if scientists think how they would feel in that situation.

There are many companies out there that do not use animals for testing their products. Yet these companies still have popular products that are bought daily by all. For instance the company Lip Smackers, sell all kinds of lip-glosses, chap sticks and makeup and they do not use animal to test their products. Many parents buy these items for their children as presents for birthdays or Christmas. Also many girls purchase them all the time and some prefer that product to others. This shows that you can make a good product without testing on animals.

Truthfully, no one deserves that kind of treatment. What if it was your pet that they were putting chemicals in with unknown reactions, how would you react? It is inhumane to make a living creature suffer and yet when the word science is appears, it is suddenly okay to torture another living creature. What is sad is the decision is usually based on what someone will obtain out of it. Most animals die from experiments, others are unfortunate enough to live. The animals that are tested on normally develop a non-curing disease and suffer with this painful sickness for the rest of their lives. Does any living creature deserve to suffer?

Although people may argue that scientists are doing the right thing because they may be finding a cure or some medication that helps a particular sickness, it still is not a good reason. Technology today is so advanced that everything can be computer generated. They have things today in some colleges where you don t have to manually dissect anything because there is a computer program that has the dissection completed. The welfare of children is very important but animals are mammals too.

Animals that are placed for adoption after being tested on usually have extensive physical problems. Bladder control, neurological behavior, and many other problems are common for the animals. When a potential owner browses for a dog or cat, generally they are not told that it was used for research purposes. So, the animal is adopted taken home and all is good for a while. However, most people don t have time to work with animals so, now they have a dog that can t control their bladder, runs into things and may even be mean.

That is normally when the owner abandons the animal. Some people try to give it away, others just leave it at home or outside hoping it will go away on its own. After owners start noticing these wrong habits about their animal, some owners also stop caring for them and start to abuse and mistreat them.

The second most common form of animal abuse is mistreatment. Six-thousand animals are tossed out on the streets every year (About Us). Already they have been through more than most people experience in a lifetime. The sad thing is, at least half of these animals have nothing wrong with them. People often acquire a pet for themselves or a child, who doesn t have the time to take care of it, or decides having a pet is not for them. Also, some of these parents buy these animals for their kids just so they will stop annoying. The adults don t care about what happens to the pet. A number of people make stupid excuses for mistreating their animal such as saying; it is to big, hairy, loud, or the most common one, it needs to be trained. So they take the easy way out and dump them somewhere. It s not fair to not give an animal a chance to fulfill their potential just because the authority figure is not educated about the importance of an animal s health and well-being.

Thirty-five thousand are put to sleep every year because of abandonment and abuse (About Us). Is it right to put harmless animals to sleep for no apparent reason? Many animals are terminated because SPCA s doesn t have to the room for them. Even animal owners don t even have their animals fixed. Which brings many unwanted puppies that get tossed out. How is that fair to hurt something just coming into this world just because someone was too inconsiderate to prevent it?

Mistreatment means to treat badly or harm. It is really hard to judge a mistreatment case because everyone has his or her own idea of it. For example to some people, a pop on the nose is abuse, while others go as far as thinking beating is the only kind of intolerable act. Discipline is sometimes needed, but how far should it be taken? There are those who think leaving your pet outside in extreme conditions is harmful, while some others believe isolating your pet inside rather then outside is mistreatment. Another thought of hurting along with animal that doesn t receive being spaded or neutered. What most people don t realize is mistreatment is to be considered all of these things. They may think there is nothing wrong with what they are doing, but if to think of what the animal is feeling that might change their mind.

Put yourself in his or her place, how would you like to go days in the cold with no food or water? How about getting something thrown at you because someone else had a bad day? Just take a moment to ask yourself just how fair it is to treat anything like that?

The problem occurs when the neighbors see the act and call authorities. The animal is then taken away from the home too most likely be put up for adoption. Unfortunately, this cycle often repeats itself throughout some of the animal s entire life. There is only one solution to end this vicious cycle and that is to not mistreat or abuse animals in any way. Society needs to think of a pet as a child; they need love, affection, understanding, and most of all patience.

If someone is to do something nasty to an animal and wouldn t do it to their own child, chances are its mistreatment. Many people don t feel that not fixing an animal is a form of mistreatment. However it is, the puppies that don t get a home and end up dying.

People are too concerned with themselves to think about their pets. Therefore many pets suffer from the laziness and lack of caring ness of their owner. Animal cruelty is a big problem in today s world, but it is a fixable one. All it takes is a little thought and our society could put an end to the horrible scientific testing, abandonment and mistreatment of animals. Everyone should think very seriously before deciding on whether or not to have a pet. It is a big responsibility to love your pet, but your pet will love you. If you were an animal how would you want to be treated?

Work Cited

About Us . (1997). Virginia Beach SPCA. 23 February 2001

http://www.vbspca.com/aboutus.html.

Facts and Figures . (1997). Virginia Beach SPCA. 23 February 2001

http://www.vbspca.com/about_facts.html.