Sandy Ramirez
Collin Hull
English 1020
Revised Essay 2
What Causes Animal Abuse
Figure 1: there is no excuse to abuse any non-human for any reason
“I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because its such
a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs
of her.” ( DeGeneres, Ellen)
Introduction
In todays society Animal abuse has been a serious issue that has grown nation
wide in many debates. Animal abuse can be presented in more than one form like
physical abuse, fighting of any sort, neglect, starvation, and unintentional abuse. Animal
cruelty such as inhumane methods of putting down animals, as well as inhumane
treatment of animals on farms has evolved to new forms and its methods of keeping it
secret have become elaborate, for the main reason of these offenders know laws have
Sandy Ramirez
Collin Hull
English 1020
Revised Essay 2
become more enforced. The increase in statistics has become a reason of why a greater
effort is created to prevent any activities that are form of animal cruelty, forming
agencies (The Inside View of Animal Cruelty). What can be the cause of animal abuse?
Could it be Behavioral/Psychotic Disturbances? Bullying in Adolescent? The Cycle of
Violence?
Root Causes of Animal Abuse
Understand Animal Neglect and Cruelty says “More than two decades of
psychological and sociological research reveals that barbarous acts toward animals
often lead to brutality toward humans. Such violence has been observed in serial
killers, who often began their sprees of violence by practicing on animals, but is well
documented in cases of domestic violence and child abuse as well”
Bullying and Animal Abuse
In recent years psychologists, educators, and law-enforcement officials have
created a sense of urgency to examine school bullying and factors that could be the
connection to cruelty to animals. Associate professors of criminal justice Chris Hensley
and Jeremy wright an author say “cruelty to nonhuman has been identified as having a
strong connection to subsequent violence towards humans (Bully and Animal Abuse). As
a result to children who are bullied they hold a positive attitude toward violence and are
more likely than their peers to engage in domestic violence, criminality, and substance
abuse later in their life’s (Henry, Bill C.).
Sandy Ramirez
Collin Hull
English 1020
Revised Essay 2
The Witnessing of Animal Abuse and Adolescents Behavior
towards Animals
According to physiologist Kelly L. Thompson and Eleonora Gullone Hostile and
abusive family environments have been consistently linked to increase incidence of
childhood exposure to cruelty to nonhuman animals. It has been reported by
researchers that abusive adults use violence as a way of controlling, intimidating, and
silencing their victims and most of the time they threaten to harm or actually do hard to
animals in front of the children or adult partners. Because of their abusive experiences
children learn to perpetrate acts of violence against a more innocent and powerless
victim than themselves. 29% of mothers within a family violence group reported that
their children had witness their companion animal being harmed or killed by their
partner. 19% mothers within the family violence group reported their children had
harmed or killed a family pet, compared to the community group where their was only
1% reported that their child had done so (Association between the Witnessing of Animal
Abuse and Adolescents Behavior Towards Animals).
Understanding Animal Abuse: A Sociological Analysis
According to Clifton Fly author of Understanding Animal Abuse says, “The abusive or
cruel treatment of animals had received virtually no attention among academicians.”
Ever since decades Flynn discusses that studies of animal abuse and its relation to other
forms of violence to humans have increased not only by number but also in quality and
Sandy Ramirez
Collin Hull
English 1020
Revised Essay 2
stature. Flynn challenges readers to consider the feelings of the animal and also to think
about what systemic cruelty of farms and vivisection laboratories are doing to the
animals.
Conclusion
Animal abuse is unnecessary and it is not only for legal systems to ensure that
communities around the whole world are aware and educated about animal cruelty.
People can take action with animal abuse support groups by donating or simply
volunteering at a local shelter. As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only
thing that ever has.”
Sandy Ramirez
Collin Hull
English 1020
Revised Essay 2
Work Cite
Henry, Bill C., and Cheryl E. Sanders. "Bullying And Animal Abuse: Is There A
Connection?." Society & Animals 15.2 (2007): 107-126. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 30 July 2013.
Thompson, Kelly L., and Eleonora Gullone. "An Investigation Into The Association
Between The Witnessing Of Animal Abuse And Adolescents' Behavior Toward
Animals." Society & Animals 14.3 (2006): 221-243. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 30 July 2013.
McPhedran, Samara. "Animal Abuse, Family Violence, And Child Wellbeing: A
Review." Journal Of Family Violence 24.1 (2009): 41-52. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 30 July 2013.
Flynn, Clifton P. "Understanding Animal Abuse:." Google Books.
N.p., 2012. Web. 30 July 2013.
"The National Humane Education Society -Understanding Animal
Neglect and Cruelty." The National Humane Education Society Understanding Animal Neglect and Cruelty. N.p., n.d. Web. 30
July 2013.
Figure1: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2tc2jG3w81qkjfqxo1_1280.jpg