Every 60 seconds, an animal suffers abuse. The ongoing cruelty results in 10 million animal deaths across America each year.
No, we’re not trying to break your heart. Instead, we want you to feel angry enough to join the fight to end animal cruelty.
You are not helpless in putting an end to animal abuse. In fact, there are a variety of ways to stop animal cruelty.
Keep reading to explore the top five ways you can end the abuse against animals.
1. Know the Signs of Animal Abuse
The first step in preventing animal cruelty is knowing warning signs of violence and neglect. Once you can recognize animal abuse, you can report it to the authorities and help animals who are suffering.
Poor Health
Children who are neglected are noticeable. They have unkempt hair, wear dirty clothes, and have an odor from lack of proper hygiene. The same signs apply to animals.
Abused animals often are underfed. They may have bones protruding from their bodies or look excessively fatigued. The animal may come across as aggressive due to their extreme thirst or hunger.
Neglected animals will also have matted fur, open sores, and fleas. They may be limping or have physical disabilities, such as blindness. Most abused dogs have mange, a disease that creates thick, crusty patches over the skin.
Inhumane Shelter
Neglected animals may be forced to live in cramped cages or spend hours chained to houses. Leaving animals outside without proper shelter during storms, blizzards, and extreme temperatures is a form of animal cruelty.
Poor shelter also extends to vehicles. Leaving an animal in a hot car for an extended period puts the animal’s life in danger. In many states, owners are charged if their pets die while locked in a hot car.
Abnormal Behavior
If an animal is known to be overly aggressive, they may have been trained to act that way. Forcing animals to be violent and attack others is a form of animal abuse. This especially applies to Pitbulls, who are often trained for fighting.
Physical Violence
Most acts of physical violence against animals occur behind closed doors. However, if you see an owner strike or physically abuse their pets with extreme force, report it to the authorities.
High Number of Animals on One Property
Animal hoarding is a form of cruelty. People with too many animals for one property should be reported. If you notice large numbers of animals that don’t seem to be well-taken-care-of, report it.
2. Boycott Leather Products
You can stop animal cruelty by boycotting inhumane companies. The leather industry is one of the leading perpetrators of animal abuse.
Leather most commonly comes from cows, but it can also be made from pigs, sheep, and goats. Newly-born cows are frequently slaughtered within their first few days of life to create expensive leather products.
Leather is created after skinning an animal. In many cases, the animals are not fully dead, which means the cows are skinned alive. In addition, most cows are skinned in front of others, which is traumatic and abusive.
By boycotting leather brands and avoiding leather products, you send the message that you do not approve of how leather companies are treating animals and the environment.
3. Vote for Stricter Animal Cruelty Laws
Make your voice heard in the fight to end animal cruelty. Speaking up for animals starts at the local level, but your voice can make its way to the White House.
In November 2019, President Trump passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, making intentional acts of animal cruelty a federal crime. Perpetrators face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Write letters to your local representatives. Get signatures on petitions to encourage authorities in your community to take action against those who abuse animals. Vote for officials who make the wellbeing of animals a priority.
4. Try Meatless Mondays
Eliminating meat from your diet once a week is a simple way to prevent animal cruelty.
By reducing the amount of meat you eat, you save farm animals from the torments of factory farming and slaughterhouses. Meatless Mondays show you care about animal rights and do not support the abuse farm animals endure.
In addition to showing your support for animals, engaging in Meatless Mondays can help us preserve natural resources and combat climate change.
5. Report Animal Cruelty When You See It
You have the power to help an animal in need. Don’t stay silent if you notice a neglected or abused animal.
To report animal cruelty, contact your local ASPCA or animal cruelty organization. If there are none, call the police or a veterinarian. They may be able to connect you with the appropriate authorities.
Before reporting animal cruelty, gather as much information as possible. Your report must be thorough to prompt an investigation. It should include:
- The location where you saw the abuse occur
- A factual statement of what you observed
- Times and dates of when the abuse happened
- Photographs of the location and animals in question
- Contact information of other witnesses who can attest to your claims
- Your name and contact details for authorities to gather more information
When gathering information, do not put yourself in danger. If the animals are on private property, do not trespass or intervene. Record what you see from a safe distance.
When reporting animal cruelty, keep detailed logs of the encounters. Make note of the names of the people you speak with and follow up on the investigation if you do not receive a response.
If you see animal cruelty in movies or TV shows, you can contact the American Humane Association Movie and TV Unit to report the abuse. If you see someone illegally selling or trading animals online for financial gain, you can report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
More on Animal Cruelty and Other Hot Topics
You can choose to turn a blind eye to animal cruelty, or you can speak up for those who don’t have voices. Whether you’re reporting specific cases of animal abuse to the authorities or boycotting inhumane brands, every effort makes a big difference.
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