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Friday, July 2, 2010

Cat abuse

My cat Tica has informed me that she thinks I should post on cat cruelty.
So I shall.
You love your pet cat and shower her with affection. Unfortunately, not every animal receives such tender treatment from its owner. Every day, thousands of animals are subjected to cruel treatment from the people they rely on for proper care. It is heartbreaking to think about, but there are steps you can take to help prevent such acts of cruelty. Annemarie Lucas, animal humane law enforcements supervisory special investigator for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, offers these tips for recognizing and preventing animal cruelty.
1. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. While some signs of cruelty are immediately obvious, such as an owner physically abusing an animal, other symptoms of abuse are more subtle. Be aware of these signs:
Severe tick or flea infestations.
Obvious wounds on the animals body.
An animal that limps or favors a leg.
Extremely thin or starving animals.
Patches of missing hair on the animals body.
Dogs chained up in a yard without access to food, water or shelter.
Animals that act fearfully or aggressively around their owners.
2. Report acts of animal cruelty. Animal humane officers would not know about instances of animal cruelty without reports from concerned citizens. If you suspect an animal in your neighborhood is being abused, report it to the proper authorities.
3. Know how to report animal cruelty. While some cities employ animal humane law enforcement officers, not every city has dedicated staff to investigate and arrest people who commit acts of animal cruelty. You may need to call your citys police department or contact the local animal control office. If you're not sure who to call, ask your local animal shelter.
4. Give as much information as possible. When you call to report an act of animal cruelty, try to give the investigating officer as many details as possible. Write down what you witnessed, and include details such as the breed of dog, who was involved, the date of the incident and the location. The more information you provide, the better.
5. Know your states animal cruelty laws. Your city may have its own ordinances about animal cruelty, too. If you're not sure of the laws in your state, you can get an overview of laws in all 50 states from the ASPCA.
6. Treat your own animals with love. Set a good example for other pet owners by providing good care for your pets. Remember that good care is more than food, water and shelter. Proper care includes regular veterinary visits, daily attention and plenty of affection.
7. Teach your children to treat animals with respect. By learning how to properly care for pets when young, your children will be responsible pet owners as adults. Explain why your animals need daily food and water, describe the benefits of regular veterinary care and show by example how to treat your pets with love.
8. Support your local animal shelter. Consider volunteering your time at your local shelter. If you can't bring yourself to work directly at the shelter, consider opening your home to foster pets, or find a way to help that doesn't involve interaction with the animals.
If all pet owners took small steps to prevent animal cruelty in their neighborhoods, think how many animals lives could be saved. Take steps today to prevent animal cruelty where you live.


3 comments:

Courtney Paige said...

I'd like to join (write) on here too about animal cruelty. It's sick and the people that do it are evil. I am 12 but trying to do my part to stop it so please?

Bluu Dog said...

I can't add you...
Go on the join page.

Anonymous said...

wow thats long i was to lazy to read it so i made my computer do it haha