Information on Animal Abuse

Animal abuse is something most people do not fully know about. There are many

different types and forms in which it takes place. Animal abuse is where someone inflicts a

certain type of neglect or pain on a creature that has done nothing to deserve it and does not

entirely know what is going on. Animal abuse can go unnoticed most of the time, for example it

can be as simple as forgetting to feed a pet or not providing a safe or livable environment for

them to survive in. Animal abuse is not always physical violence, it can simply be owning a pet

but not being able to fully take care of all of its needs (Bourazak, 2013).

Factory farming is another form of animal abuse that people try to keep a secret. There

are laws made called Ag-Gag laws specifically in place so there can be no undercover

documentation of what is going on inside of factory farms. These laws are considered to be

dangerous because it makes it so the public only knows what they want them to know. People do

still try to document as much as they can illegally. They abuse animals in those factory farms

since birth, which is why they do not let the public fully know what is going on inside of them.

In these farms, animals are getting beaten, hung, thrown away, kept in crates while constantly

being impregnated, and more. A common form of abuse found within factory farms is baby

chicks getting their beaks broken off, as well as chickens getting their necks broken, and live

chickens living in boxes with dead chickens (Piper, 2019). There is so much abuse going on in

factory farms according to secret documentaries and certain studies, and these Ag-Gag laws

make it harder for the world to fully know everything that is going on inside of them (Piper,

2019).
 Animal abuse is also found to be connected to domestic violence in households. Women,

children, and animals are most commonly found to be abused together. The connection between

domestic violence and animal abuse is strong and very common according to studies and many

different statistics. A lot of the time, criminals start out by abusing animals and then work their

way up to violating people as well. In a household where domestic violence is taking place, it is

found that animal abuse is also happening, it is also found that people are not making as big of a

deal about it. Studies show that around 70-85% of women that go into shelters due to domestic

violence have stated that their partners have killed or abused animals in the household as well. A

lot of the time spouses will stay with their partners in toxic households simply because they are

worried for their animals. Most stated that they believed that if they were to attempt to leave,

their spouses will either abuse or even kill the family pets. Studies show that 18-48% of women

that are being domestically abused hesitate or just do not leave the environment for fear of their

animals. Women that are being abused stay to protect them, even at their own risk. Dangerous
relationships can also lead to abusing animals. Sometimes animals are adopted to help in toxic

homes, but in the end they just get abused and neglected as well.

In conclusion, it is found that animal abuse is happening everywhere in many different

forms, and a lot of the time it is not even being noticed. Animal abuse can range from forgetting

to feed pets to factory farming. Studies state that animals should not be adopted in the first place

knowing that they will not receive everything that they need to survive. Ag-Gag laws prevent the

public from fully knowing what is happening to animals inside of factory farms. So far the public

only knows basics, such as the breaking of the animals’ bones, keeping live animals with dead

animals, and of unhealthy environments animals in factory farms have to live in. There are many

pictures and articles that can be found on what is really happening in factory farms. Domestic

violence happening in households also means that animal abuse is taking place (DeGue &

DiLillo, 2019). Studies also show that high amounts of spouses are abusing their partners as well

as the pets of the household (Upadhya, 2011). There are studies showing what signs to look for

and what can be done as well as what is currently being done about it. But it is found that not

everything that is going on is fully enough. According to certain organizations, more laws and

fees will be put in place against animal abuse in the near future.
Reference:

“Animal Cruelty and Human Violence FAQ.” The Humane Society of the United States,

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animal-cruelty-and-human-violence-faq.

Bourazak, Lisa, et al. “How to Recognize Animal Abuse & What To Do About It.” Veterinary

Team Brief, Sept. 2013, pp. 61–64. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=111831809&site=eds-live.

“Facts and Myths About Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse.” Animal Welfare

Institute,

https://awionline.org/content/facts-and-myths-about-domestic-violence-and-animal-abuse

DeGue, Sarah & DiLillo, David. (2008). Is Animal Cruelty a “Red Flag” for Family Violence?

Investigating Co-Occurring Violence Toward Children, Partners, and Pets. Journal of

interpersonal violence. 24. 1036-56. 10.1177/0886260508319362.

Piper, Kelsey. “‘Ag-Gag Laws’ Hide the Cruelty of Factory Farms from the Public. Courts Are

Striking Them down.” Vox, Vox, 11 Jan. 2019,

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/1/11/18176551/ag-gag-laws-factory-farms-exp

lained.

UPADHYA, VIVEK. “The Abuse of Animals as a Method of Domestic Violence: The Need for

Criminalization.” Emory Law Journal, vol. 63, no. 5, May 2014, pp. 1163–1209.

EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lgh&AN=96875655&site=eds-live.