“Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first
duty to them, but to stop there is not enough.”
St. Francis of Assisi
To Oppose Cruelty In All Its Forms... Get Involved |
This page specifically offered in support of all the efforts to prevent cruelty and alleviate the
pain, fear and suffering of animals through
nationwide education, awareness, legal and
legislative programs.
Led by ASPCA efforts in New York State,
some of the first state animal welfare laws
were enacted to protect horses and cattle.
Today, each state has some form of anti-cruelty
law, and protection extends to many
other species. But there is much more to be
done through federal, state and local efforts
to strengthen these laws.
Animal abuse can take many forms. Beating
an animal is just one of them. The failure of
a human caregiver to provide a companion
animal with food, water, veterinary care or,
in some locations, shelter, constitutes
neglect. Leaving an animal locked in a car
or tied outside in very hot or cold weather is
unlawful. Abandoning a pet is a crime.
Individual animals also suffer in factory
farms, puppy mills, fur farms, research laboratories and cruel traps.
ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement peace
officers are empowered to safeguard animals
across New York State through inspections,
seizures and arrests. They respond to animal
cruelty complaints, which can involve pet
shops, animal shelters, individuals who
have more animals than they can care for
properly, and illegal cockfights and dogfights.
They also inspect carriage horses,
stables, movie sets, rodeos, circuses, and
zoos on a regular basis. HLE officers as well
as ASPCA Humane Education and Public
Information staff seek to educate people
about necessary care and compassion for
animals, not only to prevent animal abuse,
but also to remedy questionable situations.
Animal cruelty is a felony in slightly more
than a majority of states at this time, and
the ASPCA and other animal protection
organizations around the country continue
to lobby in state capitals for stronger anticruelty
measures. It has been established
that many notorious mass murderers and
other dangerous criminals have had a history
of animal abuse, but many judges and
prosecutors still must be educated to the
seriousness of animal abuse.
The Animal Cruelty Prosecution Task
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Force, an organization made up of prosecutors,
attorneys and law enforcement officials,
has been created to examine and track
animal cruelty cases and promote effective
prosecution. In addition, an intervention
program has been launched by the ASPCA
in which convicted abusers meet with our
Director of Counseling Services.
Key goals of the program are:
• Cross-training among human service and
animal welfare agencies
• Cross-reporting
• Information-sharing among agencies and
effective public education
• Psycho-educational intervention for abusers
• Foster care for animals at risk
How You Can Help
• Cruelty investigators throughout the
United States—be they sheriffs, police officers
or local animal shelter or control personnel—
are prepared to assist citizens by
serving cruelty summonses and/or arresting
violators. If you witness or hear about animal
cruelty, report it to your local humane
organization, police or sheriff.
• Currently, a witness to an abusive act may
be required to testify in court to support the
charge, which hopefully will result in the
removal of the animal from the threatening
environment, sometimes permanently.
• In many states, animal cruelty crimes are
classified only as misdemeanors. However,
lobbying is taking place in many states to
make intentional cruelty to animals a
felony. Contact the ASPCA Government
Affairs and Public Policy department,
which can advise you on ways you can help,
including writing to your lawmakers.
• Make sure schools in your town include
humane education as part of their curriculum
or lesson plans.
• Volunteer at a local animal shelter, foster a
shelter animal or adopt a companion animal.
Support your local animal rescue organization
or shelter with money, food or supplies.
• If you have a companion animal, be
responsible and provide him or her with
annual veterinary check-ups. Spay or neuter
your cat or dog to reduce the pet population.
License your dog and obey the leash
laws to ensure his or her safety.
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Help 21st Century CARES speak out for mistreated animals. Legislation, enforcement,
education, awareness and public action all work toward the prevention of cruelty to
animals.
REALIZE THAT THOSE WHO ABUSE OR NEGLECT THROUGH VICIOUS MEANS OR SIMPLE IGNORANCE ARE
NOT GOING TO VISIT SITES SUCH AS THIS. SO, ANY INFORMATION GAINED FROM THIS OR SIMILAR
SITES MUST BE SHARED BY YOU. IF NOT YOU, THEN WHO? |
