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Animal Cruelty

Know Your Animal Cruelty Cases

Know Your Animal Cruelty Cases

Animal cruelty statistics indicate an increase in animal cruelty cases. However, some of the increase can be attributed to better investigative techniques and an increase in reporting. Yet,  animal cruelty statistics do indicate an increase in incidence which can be attributed to the poor state of the economy. As families struggle to pay the bills, they may abandon or stop caring for their pets.
 
 
There have been many famous animal cruelty cases, including Michael Vick. He was accused and found guilty of running a dog fighting ring. Cases such as this, bring national attention to a growing problem. After this case received wide media coverage, people began to look for the signs of dog fighting rings and reports poured in.
 
 
Since that case, there have been many dog fighting rings reported in places such as New York state. In fact, there have been hundreds of arrests, usually as a result of long and intensive investigations. In addition to undercover police work, the public has helped to reduce the crime, by reporting any suspicious activity which may be attributed to dog fighting, such as pit bulls with injuries.
 
 
Animal cruelty cases also involve abandonment. As families can no longer afford to care for their pets, they abandon them or simply fail to care for them any longer. As a result, many towns have reduced or eliminated fees for leaving an animal at a shelter.
 

What Does Cruelty to Animals Encompass

What Does Cruelty to Animals Encompass

Animal cruelty can encompass a variety of actions. Each jurisdiction has the right to dictate the laws, as well as the punishments for breaking the laws. In most cases, penalties have been increased and may include jail time and fines. In many cases, individuals found guilty of  cruelty to animals, are often prohibited from having any pets, at least for a certain number of years.
Animal cruelty can include neglect. Neglect may be the result if misinformation in cases were people are unsure how to properly care for their pet. For instance, an animal may be malnourished because an individual was unsure of the proper feeding schedule.
There are also many cases of extreme animal abuse. Cases in which individuals simply drop of pets in the woods or in a public place and drive away, can be charged with animal cruelty as most pets are not very adept at surviving on their own. In addition, these animals can quickly multiply in numbers if they have not been spayed and neutered, posing a health risk to the community.
Animal cruelty may include community service in addition to fines. In cases where the individual  is charged with neglect, the penalties may be less harsh than those that have inflicted harm on animals. For example, animal cruelty in which the animal suffered death or injury, would likely include much more harsh penalties than those crimes in which an individual was simply unsure of how to properly care for an animal.