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Pets Arent
Threats
Kyle Cook
English 12
5-31-16
Leidecker

Every second, there are an enormous number of pets and other domesticated animals
suffering from pain worse than anything youve ever experienced. This abuse is happening by
the hands of other individuals just like ourselves. It could be anyone even someone you know
and what do we do to stop or prevent it? (animalrightssection.com) Hundreds of thousands of
pets and animals are abused, neglected, and treated unfairly every day and still, our society
would put their heads in the sand and act as if they havent had a clue to what is happening all
around them. These abused, neglected, and loving companions are not protected enough from
potential harm.
Only those who possess the willpower to think its right to abuse their pets see animals as
nothing more than slaves or property, not companions. They think they are better than their pets.
These people dont believe animals should be protected. They think that the animals were put in
our domain to control them as if we are a higher being. They see their pets as savages, but most
would agree that the abusers demonstrate who the real savages are. For example, the US Drug
Enforcement Agency (DEA) has prosecuted several cases where drug cartels and wanted felons
used dogfighting as a way of trafficking drugs. (Humane Society) Also, research shows that in
domestic violence cases, a pattern of pet abuse is revealed as well. These people that abuse their
families also target pets as a medium through rage or anger. Its frustrating to comprehend how
abusers think. Just because these pets and animals dont have rights to protect them, it makes it
acceptable to injure them? These individuals have listed reasons as to how they justify their poor,
and unacceptable treatment:

Animals do not have souls

God gave humans domain over animals
Humans are intellectually superior to animals

Animals do not reason, think, or feel pain like humans do. ( the extent of this and

its context perturbs me )

Animals are a natural resource to be exploited as humans see fit.
(Animal Rights Debate website)

These terrifying people believe that animals arent deserving of any protection, let alone
rights. Lastly, people should note that these household companions are just as capable of feeling
love, emotion, pain and suffering as well as people are.
Pets need the law to grant them better protection from household domestic abusers. Did
you know that 30 percent of domestic abusers target their pets as well? (ASPCA) For instance,
domestic abusers are usually characterized as acting upon selfishness, jealousy, or rage. Only
sometimes will they lash out against their pets and when they do, the pets become seriously
injured or they die. Between twenty-five to forty percent of battered women are unable to escape
abusive situations because they worry about what may happen to their pets if they were to leave
(Americanhumane.org). It is discerning to know how common these situations are but there are
too few people that know pets are targeted as well. According to The American Humane Society,
thirteen percent of intentional animal abuse is affiliated with cases involving domestic violence.
These situations are a very scary and very real problem. In homes that have reported abusive
husbands, animal protection companies should temporarily remove household pets for their
safety. Although, this is very difficult because humans do come first when the cases become lifethreatening.
Innumerable amounts of cats and dogs are forgotten and neglected every day. This
abandonment creates serious physical and emotional problems with the animals. The most
important form would be the lack of proper care. These animals must learn to scavenge for their

own food and water. No one is available to feed them and they wander becoming hopelessly
afraid of humanity with each passing day. They are stuck alone and forgotten. Neglected pets are
either left chained and outside, or trapped and indoors. Depending on each situation the animals
are prone to specific risk factors. Factors such as starving, or being vulnerable to attack by other
things and even self-inflicted harm (peta.org). Some owners of these poor companions are very
dark and terrifying. For example, a long-neglected dog was found with his chain embedded into
his neck in July of 2010. The dog underwent immediate surgery and the owner you ask? He was
charged with only a misdemeanor (Humane Society). Another example, in September of 2007 in
Montgomery, Alabama, a chained dog was beaten by a shovel, soaked with lighter fluid, and then
set ablaze by his owner. He was charged with felony cruelty to animals with less than a $1000
fine and 30 days imprisonment. (ASPCA) Emotional damage to these canines and felines takes
hold after being neglected for a long period of time. A dog, for example, can only retain their
owners scent for a certain period of time. The dog begins to lose everything it has grown up
knowing. They become instinctual and wild after being left to fend for themselves. It is the same
case with the boys in Lord of the Flies. Dont you ponder to know why abandoned pets run away
when you try to save them? They are faced with a dilemma; that being, is he able to trust you or
should he run. Now, remembering their last encounter with human was not well, they will most
likely run. This is how pets lose faith in humanity and the emotional damage takes a toll on their
social skills as well.
Dogs, specifically, are smarter than you might believe. They have brains and they have
the right neurons to show it. Several canine lovers, including myself, believe that our
companions have a sixth sense when trying to comprehend human emotional needs and physical
actions. In a study published in Animal Cognition, researchers discovered that a dog was more

likely to approach someone crying rather than someone humming or talking (Animal Cognition).
Dogs respond to weeping with submissive behavior (dognotebook.com). Reflecting, you would
respond the same if you were to see someone you know weeping or crying. Its marvelous what
our canines are capable of and this is just scraping the top of their capabilities. Pets are very
smart as well. How could someone explain when your buddy runs away moments before and
bath or some sort of grooming? They can predict our intentions! Dogs can PREDICT what will
happen next. That is qualified as high level intellect (dognotebook.com). According to S. Coren,
author of The Intelligence of Dogs, classified dogs to retain three types of intellect:

Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving skills)

Instinctive Intelligence
Working/Obedience Intelligence

Dogs can read intentions by observing our physical behavior and their capability to remember on
average 165 words (dognotebook.com). Dogs dont speak for a reason; they can already show us
enough by their actions. Therefore, pets are clearly smarter and have enough brain power to play
tricks on you.
After these demonstrations of what an animal goes through, you must agree that they
deserve better than how they are treated. Continuing this abuse would only make us worse as a
society. We lose our sense of compassion and humanity if we treat other beings unfairly. We all
live on one planet, together. Now why dont we treat each other fairly, together?

Bibliography
Animal Cognition (research journal)
The American Humane Society
American Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
www.animalrightsaction.com
www.animalrightsdebate.com
www.dognotebook.com
The Intelligence of Dogs (S. Coren)
www.peta.org
www.redrover.com