Question

Explain 2 examples of nationwide institutionalized animal cruelty.

Answer 1

The animals whose abuse is most often reported are dogs, cats, horses and livestock. Undercover investigations have revealed that animal abuse abounds in the factory farm industry. But because of the weak protections afforded to livestock under state cruelty laws, only the most shocking cases are reported, and few are ever prosecuted.

• There are approximately 70 million pet dogs and 74.1 million pet cats in the U.S. where 20 men and women are assaulted per minute (an average of around 10 million a year).
• In one survey, 71 percent of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets.
• In one study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88 percent of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children.
• Abuse causes these innocent animals to endure so much pain, suffering, and loneliness, it can also cause an animal to become depressed, timid, or even aggressive. Examples are starvation, dehydration, parasite infestation, burning, punching, drowning, and the list goes on.
  There is a high correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence. About 1 million animals per year are abused because of domestic violence that occurs in the home where they live. 71% of pet-owning domestic violence victims report that their abuser also targeted their animal.
  
• Leaving a dog outside on a hot day, or especially within the confines of a car, can cause brain damage to the animal in as little as 15 minutes.There are about 6,000 documented cases of dog abuse that occur every year. The animals whose abuse is most often reported are dogs, cats, horses and livestock.

  The PACT Act targets “crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, and impaling animals- crushing” refers to a wide range of animal cruelty such as burning, drowning, suffocating or other serious bodily injury.