ANIMALS 101 – WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BETTER, YOU CAN HELP US ADDRESS THE PROBLEM MORE EFFECTIVELY.
Animals do not have a voice, so we need to be their voices! When was the last time you heard of anyone tuning themselves in for animal abuse? It just doesn’t happen often, if at all.
Preventing animal cruelty is in all of our best interests. Animal cruelty is not only despicable in its own right, but it is often a gateway crime to violence against adults and children. Studies show that children who witness animal abuse are at a greater risk of becoming animal abusers themselves.
We follow the 5 (6) freedoms of animal welfare:
- FREEDOM FROM HUNGER & THIRST
- FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY, DISEASE
- FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT
- FREEDOM FROM FEAR & DISTRESS
- FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NATURAL BEHAVIOURS
OUR HOPE FOR ALL WILDLIFE, TO BE FREE
We are committed to breaking the cycle and to help us stop animal cruelty, you need to understand the problem or how you might be contributing, recognize the signs, report it and help educate others to prevent it.
1. UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
If you do not work in animal welfare or know someone who does, you probably know very little about what is really going on. What you might see on Facebook and social media is not even the tip of the iceberg. Our hearts break every day for the hurt that is out there. It can be prevented!
Also read: ANIMALS 101 – HOW YOU CAN HELP ANIMAL WELFARE.
A few facts about animal abuse:
- The abuse of pets and animal companions is a daily occurrence.
- Many animals suffer multiple forms of abuse, with the most common type of abuse being neglect and abandonment.
- Cases of animal abuse include neglect, shooting, stabbing, fighting, beating, mutilation, torture, strangulation, rape, cannibalism, burning and poisoning.
- Most animal abuse is never reported.
- Dogs and cats are the most common victims, but abuse happens among other animal species, including domestic farm animals, wild animals, small pets, birds etc.
- Although there are bad people, ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION is a massive problem, especially with cats and dogs . If there were less animals, with enough “good homes”, less animals can land in the wrong hands for abuse.
- WHY is there an OVERPOPULATION CRISIS? Because people don’t sterilize their pets, they support breeders and give or sell them to anyone. When animals end in the wrong hands , they pay the ultimate price. There are animal dealers, who easily fool the untrained individual. Do you want to take that risk with the life of a sentient being?
- This needs to be addressed through education, sterilization campaigns and stricter breeding regulations. We will rather see a breed go extinct than let them endure the suffering.
UNKNOWINGLY YOU CAN BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM.
• Breed – there’s no such thing as responsible breeding when we have a massive overpopulation crisis!
• Support breeders (registered or backyard)
• Support pet shops that sell animals
• Support Aquariums
• Support Zoos
• Support Petting farms
• Support wild animal interaction (e.g. rides)
• Support Circuses with animals
• Support unethical hunting practices
• Do not sterilize your pets
• Do not keep them safe
• Let them roam the streets (including cats)
• Support irresponsible organizations
• Do not report cruelty
• Abandon/abuse/neglect any animal
• Give animals away for free
• Use products tested on animals
• Support “free to good home” ads
• Not planning for your pets when you immigrate
• …..the list goes on!
It is easy to unknowingly contribute to the problem.
Next week we will look at how you can recognize the signs of cruelty!
WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER!
