from owner negligence to dog breeding (I)

Animals’ strength is limited and their aggression is the only form of defense when their basic needs are not met or their life is in danger. Man has the ability to cause suffering to the animal and at the same time has the power to prevent its defensive manifestations. Therefore, animals become vulnerable to aggressive behaviors and negative attitudes of people.

So, what is animal abuse and how does it manifest itself?

Cruelty against animals can manifest itself in various forms such as: acts of violence, neglect, abandonment, deprivation of food and a comfortable environment, psychological and emotional trauma such as terror, torment and suffering. We can ask ourselves what drives certain people to deliberately commit such actions. There may be many explanations for such atrocities, but ultimately we will find that the abuses are motivated by financial gain. However, there is also a second category of abuse: it includes people who have various mental disorders and who enjoy gratuitously causing pain and suffering to these innocent beings.

We have prepared a list that includes the main forms of violence with the aim of providing any animal lover or supporter with a point of reference and adequate information on the matter. Education forms responsible citizens, who have the ability to show a proactive attitude and to engage when necessary in saving attacked animals.

This is one of the most common phenomena. We have been educated to show a passive and detached attitude when we witness an act of violence against animals. The manifestation of verbal and physical violence within a family is often associated with animal abuse. The presence of violence in the family is motivated by the desire to dominate, to have control over the most vulnerable, and is certainly a form through which people manifest some emotional problems present internally. If a person is capable of physically or psychologically abusing family members, he will certainly hit or mistreat the animal too. Unfortunately these types of situations are ignored considering that certain behaviors are strictly private and it is not possible to intervene from the outside. This negative model is also adopted by the children of the family, so much so that over 35% of cases of animal cruelty are committed by them. Psychological studies carried out over time have underlined the link between the existence of psychological disorders and the manifestation of human violence towards animals. Psychologists explain that such aggressive behavior is a manifestation of antisocial personality.

2. Animal farming

Did you know that there are animal breeders who aim to over-breed dogs with the intention of selling the puppies and making a profit? Growth hormones and some substances that stimulate reproduction are used within these spaces. Furthermore, there are farms specialized in raising animals exclusively for fur. They are subjected to unimaginable hardships to supply raw materials to certain industries. These factories also form partnerships with pet shops to sell animals. We must be aware that all customers who purchase pets in a specialty store are indirectly funding animal cruelty and abuse. These farms are similar to industrialized farms where chickens or other animals are raised for meat. To combat this phenomenon and reduce it, it is important to promote adoption as the only responsible and correct method for acquiring a pet.

3. Neglect and abandonment

These forms of abuse are as serious as other forms of violence. There are 2 forms of animal cruelty: active and passive. Neglect and abandonment fall into the passive form of abuse. The first form involves the isolation of the animal, the deprivation of food and water, chaining and immobilization in a cage, a passive attitude towards its suffering, the lack of medical services (vaccines, deworming), exposure to unfavorable climatic conditions such as excessive cold or heat. If we witness these situations, we recommend contacting the Animal Protection Directorate. Its representatives can offer advice to the owner regarding the education of the animal and the provision of basic needs. In extreme situations, they can also take the animal and transport it to a shelter where it will receive food and medical care. The most frequent victims of neglect and abandonment are dogs and cats. Every year hundreds of thousands or even millions of animals are abandoned and only a fraction of them reach a shelter and are adopted.