ASPCA animal abuse and adoption

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No to Abuse, Yes to Adoption
Before human beings walked the face of the earth, there were already inhabitants that are years ahead of us, and these are animals. Animals have been through many natural phenomenon and disasters, evolved, and adapted to what we know of them nowadays, but their fight for survival is still not over. The animals need protection, and preservation to prevent the extinction of their species, and for their kind to continue on for generations to come. Unfortunately, we humans, instead of being stewards of everything that are on earth, are very much involved in being predators to these animals. Cruelty towards animals is an issue that is still present and is something that seems to be very challenging to eradicate. Animal abuse and the awareness regarding this issue are not enough as a solution to this long-standing problem that is faced by the animals, both domesticated and wild.
Animal abuse and cruelty are very common in the United States of America. This does not just manifest through a direct act of violence or assault towards animals, but also passively through inhumane conditions, ignorance, and neglect (Regan 197; Arluke 55). There are many instances where animals are purposefully harmed, terrorized, and scared for the entertainment of a sadistic individual, and sadly, even though a lot of people, if not all are already aware that this is animal cruelty, people can still just look the other way and move on. Animals that are victims of animal abuse do not just pertain to those we keep as pets in our houses, but also those animals that are considered livestock in farms, those animals used in experimentation for testing of products and medications, those in the wilderness and in their own habitat that are hunted by human beings as a form of leisure or livelihood (Flynn 1-4).
We are used to seeing cute dogs and cats online and out in the stores. These are very famous as a form of amusement and leisure to both adults and kids, due to its furry cuteness, and sweet demeanor. That is why it is so easy for people to buy a pet, most commonly in forms of dogs or cats. But this kind of behavior and mindset does not help fight against animal abuse and cruelty, and most of the time, this becomes the reason why it happens. Not all people are aware of the level of time and effort that having a pet at home requires, and there are adjustments and accommodation that needs to be done for it to have a healthy home and thrive (Podberscek et al. 28-30). It requires a commitment that not all owners are willing to give, which results in improper care, neglect, or even physical abuse due to the incompatibility between the owner and the pet’s needs. There are even cases where the dogs are seen as a form of entertainment wherein, they let their dogs participate in dogfighting as a form of sport and business to gain profit from clients and spectators.
Overpopulation is also another reason why there are a lot of animal cruelty cases, especially for domesticated animals. The presence of puppy and kitten mills is one of the main culprits. Aside from promoting animal cruelty due to the mass production of puppies and even kittens, it is easily given to people, even those who are not deserving or capable of giving these animals loving homes. The main focus of this system is for financial gains without considering its effects on the animals. Aside from increasing the risk of cruelty, the mills itself are practicing animal cruelty and abuse, because this system does not give the parent dogs a healthy living condition, making them prone to different diseases and discomfort. These female dogs used in breeding are stored in cramped spaces, caged their whole lives with the sole purpose of producing puppies that are sold to the public market in pet shops all over the country. After a few years, usually four or five, of breeding, it usually is not able to produce puppies anymore, then they are just disposed of. This also poses a problem with regards to the health of the puppies due to the poor living condition of their mothers including the number of births that they have already endured, these causes an effect on the puppies’ wellbeing, sometimes having a poor immune system or birth defects (Leigh & Geyer 29-31).
There are already laws promoting the safety and rights of animals, to protect their lives and welfare. But even in the presence of these, the severity of the cases is not treated seriously by people, including those of the authorities. An example of this is seen in the report of CBS Boston, wherein a concerned neighbor called the authorities due to the animal abuse that he had witnessed and recorded on video, but as said by the informant, the police arrived after three hours. This kind of incident happening requires immediate attention because the life of the dog in the video and her puppies are at stake, especially when we are not sure of the mental state of their owner. Brutality just like what was caught on camera is not a one-time thing, which means there is a possibility that the dog had already experienced and endured a number of beatings, which is against the law. Even the owners know about the law and yet this does not stop them from initiating and participating in animal abuse and cruelty.
Due to the rampant increase of animal abuse in various states, even all over the world, a humane society has been founded specifically for the protection and welfare of animals. These organizations are the ones handling affairs to prevent and eradicate animal abuse by raising awareness in the communities, providing help to animals in need, facilitating adoption for rescue animals to have loving homes, etc.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or ASPCA is part of the humane society all over the world and is even considered as the largest. This was the first of its kind to be fo...