The Issue: Abuse
Abuse takes two forms: direct and indirect. Direct abuse is more obvious, and includes actions such as beating, burning, fighting, kicking, and poisoning. These are the more recognized forms of animal abuse because they are more publicized. While, indirect methods occur on a much more regular basis because people don't realize that what they are doing is abuse. Indirect abuse is more subtle and can include activities such as purchasing dogs from disreputable puppy mills, abandoning pets, negligence of basic care (food, water, shelter, etc.), purchasing meat from inhumane slaughterhouses, or even leaving an animal still living on the side of the road that has been hit by a car. Below are some interesting as well as atrocious pet statistics from the ASPCA:
The statistics included above are unacceptable. Take a stand and help make a difference in the lives of animals.
- It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
- Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats).
- Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.
- Most strays are lost pets who were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
The statistics included above are unacceptable. Take a stand and help make a difference in the lives of animals.
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