Animal Cruelty Facts

As we are heading into the 21st century, the so-called modern society is resorting to unprecedented animal abuse and cruelty. Earlier, the ill-treatment of circus animals was the only form of animal cruelty being given media attention. Nowadays, however, thanks to efforts of organizations like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), people have more knowledge about animal cruelty. Abuse of animals under the name of animal experimentation is one of the serious threats to have surfaced in recent times. Let us find more on the topic of animal cruelty through this article.

Facts and Statistics on Animal Cruelty
Here is a list of different kinds of animal abuse inflicted on animals in today's world. These animal abuse facts and statistics should enlighten us on the treatment offered to animals in today's world.

Slaughterhouse Cruelty
If one is aware of the animal cruelty videos on the Internet, he/she would have a better idea of how animals are treated in slaughterhouses. These gory and disturbing videos not only give us an idea of pain inflicted on the creatures, but also help expose the ugly face of our modern society.

• Unintentional neglect by workers in slaughterhouses is one of the common forms of animal cruelty. Hens and small chicks have to live in unhygienic conditions and are crammed together in small spaces.
• A video about animal cruelty revealed that one of the workers from a poultry farm literally trampled the chicken while abusing them.
• The cows killed for preparing beef undergo a similar kind of cruel treatment. Cows are slaughtered in a mechanized way. Sometimes, these animals are left bleeding in a half-slaughtered condition. Watching these animals fight for their lives is quite an agonizing experience.
• Animals used for circus have their own story of pain and cruel treatment. Cuts and wounds of circus-elephants are left untreated and the animals are forced to perform; these wounds are camouflaged under topsoil. Due to restricted movement, elephants often suffer from osteoporosis.

Thousands of dolphins are slaughtered every year at a particular coast off Denmark. It is a kind of ritual performed to mark the transition from teenage to adulthood by the youth of this country. This ritual shows us that modern-day humans are yet to shed their instincts from the stone age. The seal-hunt video from Canada had evoked similar reactions from animal right activists. As per last heard reports, seal-hunting in this region has reduced to a great extent due to ban imposed by the European Union on import of any kind of seal products. It is considered a great success for people who care about animals and their rights.

Animal Cruelty Statistics
There were 832 cases of animal abuse reported in the year 2009 (in the United States). The online source, is used for presenting this information regarding animal abuse/cruelty statistics. States like Florida (68 cases), California (50 cases) and Pennsylvania (51 cases) top the list of cases related to animal abuse. The different cases of animal abuse grouped in various categories can be found at the end of this paragraph. The year 2010 started off with similar kind of animal abuse practices; Let us get into its details. In a recent report published by PETA, it has been observed that research laboratories do not follow the norms and rules regarding proper and ethical treatment of animals. Facts regarding ill-treatment of animals present a horrifying picture before us. Abusing animals is quite a common practice among workers in research laboratories. Animals are subjected to cruel treatments like spraying water through pressure hoses, use of harmful chemicals and bleaches, etc. These defenseless creatures are forced to eat harmful chemicals in order to obtain test results. This practice though is carried out under the name of research animal testing, it is actually illegal and unethical, just like any other animal abuse practice. Prevention of animal cruelty is possible if necessary steps are taken. The following list should provide information about different forms of animal abuse.

• Hoarding
• Throwing
• Beating
• Poisoning
• Burning (with either caustic substances or fire)
• Kicking
• Drowning
• Hanging
• Unlawful trapping
• Bestiality
• Mutilation
• Shooting

We should take every possible step for rescuing animals and preventing any such practices mentioned above.

Facts for Kids About Animal Cruelty
Children need to be educated while in school about how they can combat animal cruelty. First of all, they need to be educated about animal rights and the fact that it is illegal to abuse animals. Kindness and compassion towards animals is however, the important thing to be taught. Few children draw fun out of activities like torturing animals. This kind of behavior is harmful, not only for the suffering animal, but also for people who interact with such kids. Animals, just like humans suffer from pain when abused. When a child understands this basic thing, he/she would refrain from any such activity and also prevent others from doing so.

The list of animal cruelty facts mentioned in the article presents just the tip of the iceberg, considering what is actually happening in today's world. Animals are being ill-treated and it is even more dangerous that we have become insensitive to cries of these poor creatures. The only thing that can be said about this topic is we need to be a bit more sensitive and show compassion to make life better for animals.